By Dawn Forrest
Publication Date: 2026-04-19 18:19:00
BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – The development of a data center has been a contested topic in the mountains of Botetourt County ever since Google bought more than 300 acres there in June 2025.
Botetourt County and Google solidified their $14 million deal to build a data center in March of this year.
READ MORE: Google announces it will officially move forward with Botetourt County data center
William Nelms, board president of the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce, released a statement on April 16 expressing the chamber’s support for the Google data center, calling it “a significant opportunity for the business community and the broader regional economy.”
“From a business standpoint,” Nelms wrote, “the project represents a transformative investment in Botetourt County. The data center is expected to generate $30 million annually in local tax revenue upon completion, more than twice the contribution of the County’s current top three companies combined.”
Nelms also…
