Georgetown Welcomes New Data Center Project
Georgetown is buzzing with excitement as another data center project is officially on the horizon! On September 24, the Georgetown City Council took a significant step by approving a property tax abatement for Blueprint Projects, an Austin-based company that has big plans for a $160 million investment right in our backyard at 1201 Westinghouse Road.
What’s the Plan?
Blueprint Projects is gearing up to build a 45,000-square-foot data center with a formidable 10-megawatt capacity. And the good news? They might also construct a second, identical facility in the future, depending on how things pan out. That means Georgetown could be looking at a significant boost in development activity, which is always welcome news for our community!
Now, let’s talk numbers. The council has approved a 10-year property tax abatement that will equal 50% of the real property value for the project. This means that Blueprint Projects is required to invest at least $45 million and begin construction by August 1, 2025, aiming for completion by December 31, 2026. In total, the estimated value of this incentive is around $885,000.
What About Phase Two?
And that’s not all! If the company decides to move forward with a second phase, they could get another 10-year property tax abatement – again set at 50% – should they invest a minimum of $45 million, start construction by February 1, 2028, and finish by December 31, 2029. That potential incentive is valued at approximately $1.8 million.
Community Focus
The city council didn’t stop there; they also endorsed a letter of intent for incentives that would help attract tenants to lease spaces in these state-of-the-art facilities. This plan involves a 50% abatement of business personal property for a decade, and capping it off with some conditions that require a lease to be signed and a minimum investment of $1 million within three years of obtaining a certificate of occupancy. Sounds like a win-win for Georgetown!
Economic Development Director Cameron Goodman expressed enthusiasm in regards to this opportunity, stating, “We have enjoyed working with their team and know they will be a strong fit within our community.” It’s always nice to hear local officials optimistic about development that could propel our city forward.
Why Georgetown?
You might be wondering why Georgetown is becoming a hotspot for data centers. These facilities serve as major hubs for computer processing power—what many of us refer to as ‘the cloud’. While they don’t necessarily generate tons of long-term jobs, they certainly help increase a city’s tax revenues, which is a crucial factor for local government budgets.
Despite some criticisms surrounding data centers—mainly regarding their consumption of power and water—Central Texas appears to be a favored location for such developments. In fact, a few big players are already eyeing our surrounding areas for additional data center projects, highlighting the continual growth in our region.
Georgetown’s Growth
Georgetown is indeed on the rise! Over recent years, it has become the fastest-growing city of its size in the country, seeing a flurry of manufacturers setting up shop. Companies like GAF Energy, CelLink Corp., and Hanwha Advanced Materials have all recently established operations here, adding to the vibrant economic landscape.
As our city expands and new businesses make Georgetown their home, let’s keep our fingers crossed for a bright future filled with new opportunities and developments. We are looking forward to seeing how this latest data center project unfolds and what it could mean for the community.
So, stay tuned, Georgetown! There’s a lot to look forward to as we welcome even more advancements that will shape our beloved city.
