Report: Major Projects Eye Charlotte Region

Several data center projects in western North Carolina are under consideration by users with large requirements, according to local media. Both Wipro Technologies Ltd. and Juniper Networks are "close to deals" for data center sites near Charlotte, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Wipro, an outsourcing specialist based in India, is eyeing a 215,000-square-foot building in Kings Mountain, which was most recently home of a manufacturing operation for Chris-Craft boats. Meanwhile, Juniper Networks has looked at a 141,000-square-foot former Carolina Mills building in Maiden for a data center, the journal said. Both sites are being developed by T5 Partners.

The projects would continue the strong gains for North Carolina, which has become a magnet for new data centers. The area spanning Caldwell and Catawba counties has been dubbed the Google-Apple Corridor after the two leading tech titans set up data centers in the region - Google in Lenoir, and Apple in Maiden. T5 has been focusing its efforts in the area, and Five 9s Digital recently began marketing sites in the region as well.

Microsoft is also reportedly considering a site in Mebane, North Carolina for a new data center project, while American Express is said to be planning a project near Greensboro. The North Carolina state Senate recently passed updated legislation that would beef up the state’s incentives for data centers. The measure is awaiting action in the state assembly.