Google’s announcement of an additional $930 million investment into its data centers in Omaha, Papillion, and Lincoln marks a significant economic boost for Nebraska, bringing the tech giant’s total investment in the state to over $4.4 billion.
The news was unveiled at the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Innovation Campus by Google Public Sector CEO Karen Dahut, with notable attendees including U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Ricketts highlighted Nebraska’s location in the “Silicon Prairie” as a prime reason for Google’s continued investment, emphasizing the state’s strong workforce and values.
In addition to the financial investment, Google announced two major gifts: a $250,000 donation to the University of Nebraska for artificial intelligence research and a $100,000 gift to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation’s summer STEAM science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics program.
These donations aim to strengthen educational programming in emerging technologies and support youth preparation for future careers in STEM fields.
Dahut also reiterated Google’s commitment to sustainability, including efforts to help Nebraska achieve carbon-free energy by 2030. The company plans to work with local power providers to bring over 1000 megawatts of new clean energy to the state.
Additionally, Google is dedicated to replenishing any water it uses in its data centers, promising to return resources at a rate 120% greater than what is drawn upon, reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship.