Google started construction on its newest data center and announced a new Google Cloud region in Henderson, Nevada.

According to local economic development officials, the new data center facility represents a $600 million investment in Nevada’s internet infrastructure, and the new Google Cloud region is designed to better serve Google Cloud customers operating in the Western U.S.

“Google is excited to be investing in Nevada,” said Jacquelline Fuller, President of Google.org, the tech company’s philanthropy. “Google is growing at a faster rate outside the Bay Area than in it. With our new data center and the Google.org Impact Challenge, we are thrilled to join the Henderson community and to help create economic opportunities for Nevadans.”

The tech company also kicked off a $1 million Google.org Impact Challenge Nevada and called on nonprofits throughout the state to submit their boldest ideas to create economic opportunities for their community.

Google announced its acquisition of a site in Henderson in 2018. Earlier this year, Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, detailed that the company will make over $13 billion in investments throughout 2019 in data centers and offices across the U.S., with major expansions in 14 states. As part of this announcement, Pichai confirmed the company’s plans to develop a data center in Nevada.

The new Google Cloud region will give organizations in the Western U.S. and those doing business Nevada faster access to Google Cloud Platform products and tools that will help supercharge their businesses, officials explained. When it launches, the region will have three availability zones and will support our standard set of GCP products, delivering simple, reliable and secure infrastructure and lightning fast data analytics and ML/AI capabilities.

The Google Data Center will create numerous technology jobs in Henderson, raising the city’s profile as a tech center. “This is a catalyst technology project for the City of Henderson,” said Ken Chapa, Director of Economic Development and Tourism at the City of Henderson. “We will see the benefits of this as more tech companies move in, now that Google has established the backbone infrastructure needed to operate here.”

“I’m excited about the jobs that this investment will bring to Nevada, as well as the fact that this investment in innovation is taking place in our state, said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “I’ve always believed Nevada is an innovation state, and today marks another step in a great direction.”

“This investment in Nevada will have a direct impact on our communities and increase the amount of STEM jobs available right here in our own state,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “The Google Impact Challenge will help those nonprofits throughout the state that have great ideas and allow them to move forward with their goals, ultimately leading to an even better Nevada.”

“Nevada is invested in helping our small business community thrive in a growing economy,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “Initiatives such as Google’s Impact Challenge create loyal partnerships that help small businesses invest back into our communities.”

“As Nevada’s premier community, we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Google and its local workforce to Henderson,” said City of Henderson Mayor Debra March. “It is an honor to be selected as the new hometown of a cutting-edge Google data center and we look forward to the economic opportunities it will bring to our city and its residents for many years to come. We’re also excited about the Google Impact Challenge and what these grants can do to encourage innovative ideas from non-profits serving the Silver State.”