Google-bannerGoogle announced plans today to expand its operations in Iowa with an additional $400-million investment in its Council Bluffs Southlands facility.

Google’s investment in its Iowa facilities now totals over $1.5-billion.

The data center houses computer systems and associated components that support services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps and Google+.

Governor Terry Branstad issued a statement with the Google announcement that said:
“Several years ago, state and local officials began a partnership to streamline our economic development efforts for the high tech industry. Those efforts paid off then with Google establishing a data center in Council Bluffs and today those efforts continue to bear fruit. Iowa is now at the epicenter for high tech development and our work on this front will continue to be a focus of my Administration.”