Microsoft Announces New Data Centers For Fulton, Douglas Counties

ATLANTA — Microsoft announced via blog post Thursday that it would add to its international cloud operation with new data centers in Fulton and Douglas counties.

The cloud facilities — one in East Point, one in Douglasville — would be part of what Microsoft has dubbed “East US 3,” a new data center region created to handle increased demand in Georgia, according to Microsoft Cloud Vice President Noelle Walsh.

Microsoft also is planning to build regional data centers on 90 acres it purchased over the last year at Quarry Yard, a mixed-use development in Atlanta’s Grove Park neighborhood near the Beltline.

“You don’t buy 90 acres if you don’t have plans to grow substantially,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said Thursday to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He declined to offer a timetable for when the new facilities would be built.

Microsoft’s growth in Georgia is part of a plan to make metro Atlanta a major hub, comparable to the computer giant’s presence in California and hometown Seattle.

Even before today’s announcement of the new cloud facilities, Microsoft already was in the process of opening a new office near Atlantic Station later this year. That would be in addition to sales locations currently in Alpharetta, Buckhead and Midtown. Smith said a blog post that those four locations alone will employ 2,500 people.

Candidates interested in applying for Microsoft data-center jobs can visit the company’s careers website to learn more.

Have you heard?? @Microsoft is bringing their next data center to Douglasville/Douglas County! We have a positive Outlook on the impact they'll have in this community and we know they will Excel here.

More info: https://t.co/akNJE56URv pic.twitter.com/GFJciRvvQN
— City of Douglasville, GA (@DvilleImpact) February 11, 2021