What an Iowa data center town can teach St. Joseph County

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — As data centers take shape in St. Joseph County, residents and local leaders are weighing a question: What could these developments mean for their communities in the years ahead? A Michigan columnist traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to find out. Byron McCauley visited the city for a three-part opinion series examining the impact of data centers on communities. He told 16 News Now the verdict, “For the most part, it was positive,” McCauley said. Google has operated a data center in the city for nearly two decades, offering a look at both the potential benefits and the concerns that can come with a large technology campus. “The big question that seemed to loom over all of it was — what does the future look like?” said Scott Atkinson, regional editor with USA TODAY’s Center for Community Journalism. McCauley described economic activity associated with Google’s investment, including long-term and short-term jobs. Google has also supported local education initiatives.

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