Microsoft has been identified as the company behind another big economic development project in West Des Moines. The company will build a $1.1 billion data center on a 154 acre site in Polk County.

Governor Terry Branstad was in West Des Moines for the announcement, made shortly after the Iowa Economic Development Authority approved just over $20 million dollars in sales tax rebates for the project. “Iowa has been very fortunate in the last few years to have numerous economic development projects worth over one billion dollars; Facebook, MidAmerican Energy’s Wind Farm, CF Industries, and Iowa Fertilizer,” Branstad said.

Microsoft already has a data center in West Des Moines, so the company’s total investment in the area will now reach nearly $2 billion. “That is an all-time record (for the state),” Branstad noted.

The City of West Des Moines has promised $53 million in infrastructure improvements to accommodate the site. Mayor Steve Gaer  said it’s well worth the investment. “The economic impact of this project alone, when it’s fully developed, will be over 8 million dollars a year in property taxes to the city, county and school district,” Gaer said.

Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly said the data center will be huge, covering a space comparable to roughly 20 football fields. “The project will firmly establish central Iowa as one of the country’s leading technology environments and with the addition of over 80 jobs, will certainly bring new talent to our community,” Connolly said. Microsoft officials have pledged the project will eventually create 84 jobs, most of which will pay a wage of at least $24.32 an hour.

Construction on the project is expected to start this spring.