Google is doubling down on its South Carolina operations with a massive new investment aimed at strengthening its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure while bolstering the regional workforce.
The company announced plans to inject $9 billion between 2026 and 2027 into expanding its existing Berkeley County data center campus and completing two additional data center campuses currently under construction in Dorchester County.
According to Google, these developments will significantly reinforce Google Cloud’s South Carolina region, which is part of the company’s broader global network of 42 cloud regions. The state is already strategically positioned thanks to international subsea cables such as Firmina and Nuvem, which land in Myrtle Beach, connecting South Carolina directly to Google’s global internet backbone.
“This unique combination of infrastructure continues to position the state as a global leader in AI-driven transformation,” the company said.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Google is committing to long-term workforce growth. The company says it will train more than 160 new electrical apprentices by 2030, helping to address labor shortages in high-demand technical trades.
State and local officials have applauded the investment, calling it a landmark step toward securing South Carolina’s place in the digital and clean energy economy. Leaders say energy efficiency and sustainability will be top priorities as the company expands its operations.
Economic analysts say the influx of capital could trigger significant secondary development in the Lowcountry, including new housing, utility upgrades, and local service expansion to support the influx of workers and contractors expected during construction.
While detailed timelines for construction phases have not yet been shared publicly, Google officials emphasized that the projects are already in motion and remain on schedule.
The move adds South Carolina to a growing list of states competing to become national hubs for data processing and AI infrastructure, a race driven by surging demand for cloud computing capacity from major industries including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and defense.
Originally reported by WLTX.
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