Latest news with #GrootLLC
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fortune 100 company working to build data center in West Memphis, city says
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — City officials in West Memphis, Arkansas, say they are working with one of the country's largest companies on infrastructure and incentives that will bring a planned data center to the city. A city spokesman says they are working with a company called Groot LLC, but would not release more detailed information, citing non-disclosure agreements. However, the Memphis Business Journal is reporting that Groot LLC is a local entity operating for Google, and said the company is planning a $10 billion data center on the south side of the city, just across the river from Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer in Memphis. West Memphis, AR pursing $3 billion data center West Memphis officials said Groot LLC is a U.S.-based Fortune 100 company. There is no company by that name listed on the Fortune 100 list, but Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is No. 8 on that list. The Arkansas Secretary of State's website lists a Delaware company with a Little Rock address by that name. 'We're excited to be working with a Fortune 100 company on a project that will bring high-paying jobs, cutting-edge infrastructure, and long-term growth to West Memphis,' Mayor Marco McClendon said in a statement sent to WREG. The West Memphis city council voted last week to approve several agreements with Groot LLC, including a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement. WREG is working to find more details on those deals. 'They're working closely with the City of West Memphis on infrastructure planning and potential incentives to support the project's long-term success,' said West Memphis spokesman Nick Coulter. Korean company to invest $51M in Memphis, creating over 100 new jobs Plans were submitted by Groot LLC to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for environmental approval of a data center site in West Memphis. Those plans call for a data center campus consisting of five large-scale data center buildings, supporting office buildings, parking areas, internal access roads, a utility substation, stormwater management facilities, utilities and associated infrastructure on 920 acres at the south end of Bollinger Road, behind the Coca-Cola distribution warehouse. News of a proposed data center in West Memphis came to light last year, though the company behind it was not released. At the time, city officials said the company was requesting 10 MW of power, which would be supplied through Entergy. They also said the project was expected to create some 300 jobs as of last year. Google has an operations center in Southaven, Mississippi, about 16 miles southeast of the Arkansas site. There are currently 11 data centers in the Memphis area, including xAI's Colossus supercomputer and a second xAI site under construction in Whitehaven, according to Late last month, another company revealed it is building a 15 MW data center at a former company headquarters on Getwell Road in Memphis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$10B data center deal comes as area emerges as tech hub
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A major data center linked to Google is said to be part of a $10 billion-dollar investment that could create hundreds of new jobs, according to West Memphis, Arkansas city officials. For almost a year, West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon has hinted on News Channel Three at 3 that he would be unveiling the biggest investment in the history of West Memphis, Arkansas, very soon. 'We've been on a winning streak for so long, and so many great things are coming in the next couple of weeks. You're going to hear about the biggest investment in the City of West Memphis,' said Mayor McClendon. The biggest investment is believed to be a Fortune 100 company that's planning a $10 billion data center. It would be located on 920 acres of land on Bollinger Road near the Coca-Cola distribution warehouse. The data center is expected to create 300 new jobs. A city spokesperson, citing non-disclosure agreements, would only tell Your News Leader that they're working with a company called Groot LLC. Fortune 100 company working to build data center in West Memphis, city says However, the Memphis Business Journal is reporting that Groot is a local entity operating for Google, one of the world's largest companies. Last week, the West Memphis City Council voted to approve several agreements with Groot, including payment in lieu of taxes, along with an infrastructure and incentives package. But complete details haven't been released. The possible deal comes as the Memphis area emerges as a tech hub. 'What we love about that Memphis is suddenly now on that stage for technology companies, data centers that are considering major investments here,' said Ted Townsend, Greater Memphis Chamber CEO and President. The Memphis area now has 11 data centers, including the Elon Musk Xai supercomputer, and a new data center is being planned on Getwell Road, the old Fred's headquarters. 'That's exciting to us, where we adapt and reuse these facilities. And what once was an Electrolux facility is now the world's largest supercomputer, and once was Fred's headquarters is now going to be a data center,' said Townsend. Pearson calls out Health Department, Mayor Harris over xAI But as more data centers come to the Mid-South, there are public concerns about transparency and the impact on the environment as the Memphis area becomes the heartbeat of the Digital Delta. 'We have to support economic development, but we certainly can't do it at the cost of a community that has historically been mistreated and not given the whole truth,' said TN Senator Raumesh Akbari, (D) Memphis. 'So, that's what I'm looking for, what turbines are actually being used, and what is the environmental impact? What's the air quality impact? What's the water impact?' The City of West Memphis has also agreed to a 65% real and personal property tax abatement for 30 years with Groot LLC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
