Columbia County Secures Major Technology Investment, with Google as Sole Operator

One of the largest economic development projects in CSRA history is expected to strengthen funding for local schools and services while building a regional talent pipeline

Evans, Georgia (July 23, 2026) – The Columbia County Board of Commissioners and the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County announced that Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., will be the sole end-user and operator of the Columbia County Data Center, located in Appling, Georgia. As a global leader in artificial intelligence and one of the nation’s most environmentally conscious technology companies, Google’s investment represents a transformative milestone for Columbia County and the broader Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

The project is expected to broaden the county’s tax base and strengthen long-term funding for local schools and public services, reducing the taxing authorities’ reliance on residential property taxes. It is also expected to create high-skilled, well-paying technology positions and to support construction employment during the multi-year build-out, helping establish the region as a growing technology hub.

“This is one of the most significant investments in our county’s history,” said Doug Duncan, Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. “Growth like this strengthens the commercial tax base that funds our schools, roads and public safety, and over time it reduces how heavily those services rely on residential property owners.” Chairman Duncan was joined by Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson and Cheney Eldridge, Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County, in Washington, D.C., for the project announcement in coordination with the White House.

Google has a strong track record of partnering with local communities, guided by community priorities, to create durable, inclusive pathways for long-term growth. Through community investments, energy affordability initiatives, education programs, and digital skill-building efforts, this partnership will help ensure Columbia County residents have access to the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy. Google is committed to hiring locally and developing a regional training framework that supports students and residents, building a high-skilled talent pipeline through sustained partnerships with local K–12 school districts, technical colleges, universities, and Fort Gordon.

“Securing an investment of this scale is the result of years of work preparing Columbia County to compete for opportunities that create lasting value,” said Rick Evans, Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County. “Beyond the construction and technology jobs, what matters most is the long-term partnership: a commitment to hire locally and to build a talent pipeline with our schools, technical colleges, and Fort Gordon, so the opportunities created here reach our own residents. This is the kind of catalytic investment the Authority exists to help make possible.”