You may have seen the largest construction project in Northwest Ohio underway on SR 582 in Middleton Township, Meta's Bowling Green Data Center. This massive site surrounds The District’s headquarters.
According to the @BowlingGreenDataCenter Facebook page:
“This 715,000-square-foot campus will be part of the highly advanced infrastructure that helps bring our technologies to life. Once completed, the Bowling Green Data Center will represent an investment of more than $800 million and support approximately 100 jobs. We anticipate that more than 1,000 construction workers will be onsite at the peak of construction.”
Meta is not alone in building these facilities in this area or even in the Midwest, but this worksite evolves extensively each week.
Besides the unusual nature of the project, the sheer size and scheduling of the work is something to behold. It is and will probably be unmatched by anything I will see in my lifetime!
For example, the many pieces of earth moving equipment, trucks, graders, and other related equipment move daily. Given the size and work hours, it doesn’t take them long to get their work done. Newer additions onsite include a concrete plant, fencing, and cranes that transform what we see today from something new and exciting tomorrow. Even though it will take years to complete this work, hard working crews change the landscape quickly in just a matter of days, at their pace and effort.
The economic development impact in this region goes beyond new property tax to Eastwood and Otsego schools. Fuel, stone, concrete, fencing, repairs, equipment (sales and rental) and even the trash collection adds up quickly and makes an impact on the formerly empty fields. This is new sales and revenue for our local businesses at a scale they do not usually see. Construction is scheduled to continue once the earthwork is done and the buildings get underway.
Direct labor, indirect labor, inspectors, road maintenance and others come to this site daily. Whether there are 1,000 construction jobs or 1,700 parking spaces, we expect to see the site develop for years to come! This is income for the workers, it powers their own fuel purchases, vehicle purchases, and the like. They are solid well-paying jobs in this region, where the crews work and go home regionally each day, leaving a lasting impression.
Jerry Greiner, President