The Daily Dig
Microsoft plans to begin permitting later this year for a large data center campus in Person County, North Carolina. The Redmond, Washington-based company paid $26.85 million in 2024 for the Person County Mega Park in Woodsdale Township, picking up between 1,350 and 1,385 acres near the Virginia state line. Economic developers say discussions around the project have been ongoing for nearly three years, though detailed construction plans have not yet been released.
County officials say Microsoft has committed to funding necessary infrastructure so the project does not drive up local electricity prices. The company has also pledged to limit water consumption and replenish what it uses, create jobs for local residents, invest in IT training and nonprofits, and expand the county tax base. Local leadership has publicly welcomed the investment, but clean-water advocates have raised concerns as hyperscale data centers tied to AI and cloud computing continue to push electricity and water demand higher across the state.
Project Snapshot:
Company / Platform: Microsoft (Redmond, Washington)
Project type: Hyperscale data center campus (planned)
Land acquisition: Person County Mega Park (2024)
Purchase price: $26.85 million
Site size: Reported between 1,350 and 1,385 acres
Location: Woodsdale Township, Person County, NC (approximately 7 miles north of Roxboro; 16 miles south of South Boston, VA; near NC-VA border)
Development status: Early-stage planning
Next step: Permitting process expected to begin later this year
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The land position is the real signal here. A 1,300-plus acre megasite points to phased build-out and long-term utility coordination, not a one-off building. Power delivery strategy and water management will drive how quickly this moves through permitting. For civil, utility, and mission critical contractors, early engagement matters because once approvals land, procurement windows tighten fast.
