Google is set to invest the most money ever in an Arkansas project. Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said the company will spend $4 billion through 2027 building a data center in West Memphis.
The company made the announcement Thursday (Oct. 2) on the site where the data center will be built. How many jobs will be created was not released, but Porat said the center will employ hundreds of workers and thousands of construction workers as it’s being built.
“Google is investing in the next generation of AI innovation in Arkansas and across the country,” she said. “We see AI and the energy powering it to be the innovations that will define this century. The upside of AI cannot be unlocked without the energy it requires. That is why Google is building energy capacity that protects affordability for ratepayers and creates jobs that will drive the AI-powered economy.”
The advanced data center facility will cover 1,000 acres, and will include a data center facility, office buildings, a substation, and other infrastructure. It will be the first of its kind in the state.
Centers like this require enormous amounts of energy and water. Google will work with Entergy to institute local programs to help save energy and generate more, Porat said.
The company will invest $25 million in a program to aid low-income residents in Crittenden County and surrounding areas, she said. A “use flexibility schedule” will be utilized at the center. During heavy electrical usage times during the day or at certain times of the year, the company will reduce the center’s workload, she said.
Google has started a cohort to train people in the use of artificial intelligence, and Porat said the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University are among the schools in this initial cohort. The goal is to train 10,000 people in the state in AI, and Gov. Sarah Sanders said she is pleased Google is building the center in Arkansas.
“Google’s multi-billion-dollar investment in West Memphis is one of the largest investments ever in our state and an incredible testament to the work my administration has done to build Arkansas’ energy capacity, invest in our workforce, and streamline regulatory processes,” Sanders said.
Entergy Arkansas played a significant role in meeting the electrical requirements for the project, according to officials. Google will cover energy costs for the West Memphis facility and will ramp up new solar energy and battery storage resources for the facility.
One piece of legislation passed earlier this year helped to lure Google to the state. The Arkansas General Assembly passed a series of bills named Arkansas IMPACT during the 2025 legislative session. The legislative package includes the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025, which enables utility companies to make strategic infrastructure investments, and Act 548, a sales and use tax exemption for data centers. IMPACT lowered the permitting time for new energy projects from 12-18 months down to six months.
West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon told the gathered crowd of about 100 people that there were a lot meetings leading up to the announcement and at times the negotiations were tense. He said the center and its construction will pour millions of dollars into city and state coffers and boost revenue for local school districts.
“Google’s decision to invest billions of dollars here proves that our city is ready to lead in the AI and digital economy,” he said. “This project is about more than buildings and technology it’s about opportunity and a better future for our people. We’re on a winning streak, and this is one of our biggest wins yet.”