Google data center in Oklahoma: What the company's $9 billion investment means for the state

Google is making a multibillion-dollar commitment to expand its operations in Oklahoma, unveiling plans Wednesday for $9 billion in new investments over the next two years.

>>> Google expands Oklahoma data centers with $9 billion investment: Q&A with Google and Gov. Stitt

Company leaders joined Gov. Kevin Stitt, local officials, and workforce partners at the Google Pryor Data Center to detail the projects, which include infrastructure expansion and workforce training initiatives.

Watch Google's press conference in Pryor:

Related: Google leaders join Gov. Kevin Stitt to announce new investment in Oklahoma

Pryor and Stillwater to see major tech growth

Alphabet Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said the new investment builds on Google's long-standing presence in Oklahoma, which generated $2.2 billion in economic activity for businesses and industry last year. The plan includes accelerating development at the Pryor facility and building a new data center in Stillwater.

Porat said the projects aim to make Oklahoma "an engine for growth" in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology-driven industries.

Image Provided By: Google / Gooden Group

“Google is helping to power a new era of American innovation with our investments in Oklahoma,” said Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google. “For nearly two decades, Google has proudly called Oklahoma home, starting with our data center in Mayes County, our second largest in the world. With today’s announcement, we’re accelerating that commitment with an additional $9 billion investment over the next two years in AI and cloud infrastructure, workforce development, and education. Our focus on education includes the recent launch of the Google AI for Education Accelerator, an initiative to offer free AI tools and training to every college student in America. The first cohort of participating universities will include both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. All of these investments are designed to help ensure the U.S. continues to lead in AI, while unlocking economic opportunity and creating good jobs across Oklahoma.”

Related: Google Announces $75M Oklahoma Investment At Mayes County Data Center

Workforce development to address labor shortages

Google also announced a workforce initiative to address a nationwide shortage of electrical workers. Google has partnered with the National Electrical Contractors Association and awarded a grant to the Electrical Training Alliance to increase the number of apprentices in Oklahoma by 135%.

Porat said the effort will help meet the estimated need for 130,000 additional electrical workers in the U.S. by 2030.

Workforce leaders, including Ted Jenkins of the Tulsa Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, said the funding will also integrate AI into electrical training programs and address a growing labor shortage as many workers retire or leave the field.

Image Provided By: Google / Gooden Group

Related: Google Data Center Will Add 80 High Tech Jobs To Pryor

AI education programs

Porat says that education is another focus of the investment. Google has partnered with local organizations to train more than 150,000 Oklahomans in digital skills and announced its AI for Education Accelerator will launch first at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Related: AI in Oklahoma schools: From chalkboards to chatbots

All Oklahoma college students will have free access to Google's AI Pro Plan, offering a personalized AI collaborator.

State and local leaders praise Google investment

Gov. Stitt called the $9 billion investment a "huge win" for the state, citing Oklahoma's pro-business climate, energy resources, and education partnerships as key factors.

“Oklahoma is the most business-friendly state in the country,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “Google’s decision to open another data center here is proof. Google has been a valuable partner in everything from economic development to workforce education. I’m grateful for their investment in our state and I’m looking forward to the great jobs they continue to create as we work to become the best state for AI infrastructure.”

Pryor Mayor Zac Doyle praised Google as a "true community partner" that has provided jobs, STEM support, and funding for local schools since its initial investment in 2007.

"Since Google opened their first data center in 2011, they’ve continued to be great partners with their contribution to the community,” said Pryor Mayor Zac Doyle. “Not only has Google brought hundreds of jobs, economic growth, and billions in investment, they continue to support our schools and nonprofits with much-needed funding and resources, creating a tremendous impact for Pryor. Their expansion announcement today marks a new chapter in our city’s success story.” 

Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce said the new data center to be built in Stillwater will mark a major step in the city's economic growth.

“This significant investment is a game-changer for Stillwater, bringing high-quality jobs, new opportunities for residents, and economic benefits for the entire region,” said Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce. “We are excited to welcome Google and grateful for their commitment to our city, not only through their data center investment, but also as a member of our community.”

Related: Google acquires land in Stillwater

Google's Pryor site has already undergone three expansions since opening in 2007. In 2022, the company announced a $75 million investment at the facility.

Google released the following press release regarding the announcement:

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES NEW TWO-YEAR $9B INVESTMENT IN OKLAHOMA

PRYOR, Okla. - Today, Google announced it is investing an additional $9 billion in Oklahoma within the next two years. The funds will be focused on cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, as well as expanded workforce development and education programs — meaningfully increasing the pace of investments the company has made since breaking ground on its first data center in the state in 2007. 

During a community celebration held today, Google welcomed state and local leaders as well as community members to announce plans for a new data center in Stillwater and expansion of its existing campus in Pryor. In addition, the company detailed how it will help catalyze this next chapter of innovation for Oklahoma by funding an innovative program with the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) to develop the labor force needed to build new energy infrastructure. Google is also making Google AI tools and training available to all Oklahoma-based college students and launching a partnership with the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) to prepare their students with critical AI and job-readiness skills.

Google’s deep, longstanding investments in American technical infrastructure, as well as research and development, will help the U.S. continue to lead the world in AI. This will unlock substantial economic opportunity for American businesses, advance scientific breakthroughs, fortify cybersecurity for the U.S., and create new career opportunities for millions of Americans.  

“Oklahoma is the most business-friendly state in the country,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “Google’s decision to open another data center here is proof. Google has been a valuable partner in everything from economic development to workforce education. I’m grateful for their investment in our state and I’m looking forward to the great jobs they continue to create as we work to become the best state for AI infrastructure.”

"Since Google opened their first data center in 2011, they’ve continued to be great partners with their contribution to the community,” said Pryor Mayor Zac Doyle. “Not only has Google brought hundreds of jobs, economic growth, and billions in investment, they continue to support our schools and nonprofits with much-needed funding and resources, creating a tremendous impact for Pryor. Their expansion announcement today marks a new chapter in our city’s success story.” 

“This significant investment is a game-changer for Stillwater, bringing high-quality jobs, new opportunities for residents, and economic benefits for the entire region,” said Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce. “We are excited to welcome Google and grateful for their commitment to our city, not only through their data center investment, but also as a member of our community.”

“Google is helping to power a new era of American innovation with our investments in Oklahoma,” said Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google. “For nearly two decades, Google has proudly called Oklahoma home, starting with our data center in Mayes County, our second largest in the world. With today’s announcement, we’re accelerating that commitment with an additional $9 billion investment over the next two years in AI and cloud infrastructure, workforce development, and education. Our focus on education includes the recent launch of the Google AI for Education Accelerator, an initiative to offer free AI tools and training to every college student in America. The first cohort of participating universities will include both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. All of these investments are designed to help ensure the U.S. continues to lead in AI, while unlocking economic opportunity and creating good jobs across Oklahoma.”

AI Infrastructure and Energy Capacity: Once the Stillwater data center and expanded Pryor campus are complete, the facilities will be part of Google's global network of data centers — the backbone of the company’s AI capabilities and digital services. Google operates some of the industry's most energy-efficient data centers and is committed to responsibly growing its infrastructure. 

Earlier this year, Google signed power purchase agreements that will add more than 700 megawatts (MW) of new clean capacity to Oklahoma’s electricity grid to support its data center operations in the state. Google also provided $1.5 million to support a regenerative agriculture program with Indigo Ag that aims to replenish an estimated 200 million gallons of water annually over the next seven years.

Developing Oklahoma’s Workforce : Today, etA, with support from Google.org, announced it is funding to integrate AI tools into training curriculum and boost the number of electrical worker apprentices in Oklahoma. The initiative will train existing electrical workers and more than 160 apprentices in the state by 2030, increasing the projected pipeline of new electricians in Oklahoma by 135% and strengthening Oklahoma's workforce, economy, and technological infrastructure.

This workforce development program is in addition to the funding Google has provided to local organizations that have trained more than 150,000 Oklahoma residents in digital skills. It also builds on the wide variety of jobs Google continues to create across the state — from computer technicians and engineers to food service and security roles.

Educating Oklahoma’s Next-Generation Workforce: Technology creates opportunity, and preparing Oklahomans with critical AI and job-ready skills sets them up for success and creates a skilled talent pipeline of workers in the state. OU and OSU are among the universities in the country that are part of the Google AI for Education Accelerator that launched last week, giving Sooners and Cowboys — students, faculty, and staff — no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and AI training courses. As part of the broader $1 billion commitment to American education and competitiveness that was also announced last week, all Oklahoma-based college students now have access to free Google AI Pro plan for 12 months and free AI training and job search support. 

Driving Economic Opportunity: Google’s investments and technologies helped provide more than $2.2 billion of activity for tens of thousands of Oklahoma businesses, publishers, nonprofits, creators, and developers in 2024 alone. Technologies like Search, YouTube, Google Cloud, and Workspace are enabling growth for businesses and public sector organizations across the state, from the State of Oklahoma, which is leveraging Google Cloud AI to accelerate digital transformation across its agencies, to small businesses like Family Vision Care of Ponca City, which is using Gemini for Google Workspace help their patients make more informed optometric care decisions.

Learn more about Google in Oklahoma at g.co/economicimpact/ok.