In the race to build data centers across Arkansas, the Google campus at West Memphis has taken the lead. Google is already hiring electrical engineers and facilities technicians.

I spent several days in West Memphis last summer to report on the amazing economic developments in Crittenden County. Those developments include the explosive growth of Southland Casino, a future Buc-ee's location adjacent to Interstate 40, and a future water park and hotel complex known as Epic Resort. But even though an official announcement had not been made, city and county officials couldn't help talking off the record about Google.

That announcement came in October when Google officials confirmed that they will spend $4 billion through the end of 2027. At the time, it was the largest private investment announcement in Arkansas history. The biggest previous capital investment was $3 billion spent on the recently completed Big River Steel II plant in south Mississippi County.

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon believes the total investment by Google could wind up being $7 billion to $10 billion. McClendon said the first phase of the campus will employ about 300 people, with thousands working at the site at the peak of construction.

McClendon said property taxes on the site will produce millions of dollars per year for the West Memphis School District.

The project is being built on an 1,100-acre tract and is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete. The campus will include data center structures, office buildings, a power substation, and other infrastructure. In partnership with Entergy Corp., Google will cover the costs associated with powering the facilty. Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, said the project will "stimulate economic growth in northeast Arkansas and across the state."

"This project is more than just jobs, buildings and technology," McClendon said. "It's about the future of our city, opportunity, investment and education."

Laurel Brown, regional head of data center public affairs at Google, said: "We're also working together to bring solar energy and battery........

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