NEW YORK (Daily Point) — Microsoft has made a substantial investment, surpassing the current land valuation, to acquire a 407-acre property in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, from the Creuziger family for the construction of a multi-building data center, as reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
The initial purchase cost Microsoft $76 million, with plans to develop a comprehensive data center campus involving an investment exceeding $1 billion. The Creuziger family had previously declined a government offer in 2017, opting to wait for a more favorable deal.
While the Creuziger family’s land was initially valued at $174,200 in 2023, it had appreciated over time to $598,400. Microsoft’s acquisition encompasses not only the land but also features a large pumpkin farm and a nine-acre corn maze. The total transaction, covering 641 acres, amounted to $99.7 million.
Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant data center is expected to create 200 jobs initially, with the potential for additional positions, although it remains a fraction of the 13,000 jobs originally pledged by Foxconn in 2017. The sale marks a positive outcome for the village after years of uncertainty following Foxconn’s varying commitments.
David Barnes, the family’s attorney, conveyed the family’s well-wishes for the village and Microsoft, emphasizing the importance of respecting their privacy.