County provides update on Microsoft data center development

GRANGER, Ind. — ABC57' Dante Stanton sat down with St. Joseph County Economic Development Director, Bill Schalliol, Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Microsoft data center development in Granger.

The center was first announced in 2024 but was delayed by more than a year due to a debate over who would handle the water and sewer utilities. It was announced last year that the city of Mishawaka would be the sole water and sewer provider.

Current plans for the site of the old St. Joe Farms property has the center featuring 5-6 buildings on the campus, with several hundred acres set aside for a “green zone” or environmental landscape.

New estimates from the county say the project, once complete, should bring in up to 300 full-time jobs to the community, not counting construction jobs.

Microsoft plans to start vertical construction sometime this year and to have some buildings online by mid-2027.

The county says the process is only about 10% complete, so details on how the data center is cooled and how nearby Juday Creek will be impacted are still up in the air.