Information technology giant Apple Inc. will invest more than $1 billion over nine years to locate a data center in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina governor's office. It will be the company's first East Coast data center and is expected to create at least 50 full-time jobs, with potential for up to 250; the governor's office estimates that the center could create up to 3,000 indirect jobs in addition. The announcement comes after Governor Bev Perdue signed legislation that modifies the method by which capital-intensive businesses calculate corporate income tax liability in the state; CNET News reports that the tax credit Apple will receive is worth up to $46 million. "We're looking forward to building a new data center in North Carolina, and we appreciate the efforts of Governor Perdue and state lawmakers who helped make it possible," says Susan Lundgren, an Apple spokesperson. "Our teams are getting started right away to acquire a site for the data center, and we plan to begin construction soon."