Microsoft pours $3.3 billion into Wisconsin to boost AI and economy

President Joe Biden joins Microsoft, to be announced in Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. – May 8, 2024 – Microsoft today announced a broad investment package aimed at strengthening southeastern Wisconsin’s role as a hub for AI-powered economic activity, innovation, and job creation. Announced. These investments include his $3.3 billion in cloud computing and AI infrastructure, the creation of the nation's first manufacturing-focused AI Collaborative Innovation Lab, and equipping more than 100,000 residents with essential AI skills. Contains AI skills improvement initiatives to help you improve your skills. President Joe Biden will join Microsoft President Brad Smith to announce new investments at Gateway Technical University.

“Wisconsin has a rich and storied heritage of innovation and ingenuity in manufacturing,” said Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith. “We are harnessing the power of AI to help advance the next generation of manufacturing companies, skills and jobs in Wisconsin and across the country. This creates a strong foundation for all small, medium and emerging businesses. That's what big companies can do to help,” whether they're a company or a non-profit. ”

These investments will be deployed in a four-part strategy aimed at generating long-term benefits for the state's economy and job market.

Invest in cloud and AI infrastructure

First, Microsoft will invest $3.3 billion between now and the end of 2026 to expand its domestic cloud and AI infrastructure capabilities by developing a state-of-the-art data center campus in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The project is expected to bring an influx of 2,300 construction union jobs to the region by 2025 and provide long-term employment opportunities for years to come. This new infrastructure will help businesses in Wisconsin and across the country develop, deploy, and use the world's most advanced cloud services and AI applications to grow, modernize, and improve their products and companies. .

In addition to building physical data centers, Microsoft is partnering with Gateway Technical College to build a Data Center Academy that will recruit 1,000 people over five years to fill new data center and IT jobs created in the region. We plan to train and certify more than one student.

“This is a watershed moment for Wisconsin and an important part of our efforts to build a 21st century workforce and economy in the Badger State,” said Governor Tony Evers. “Microsoft is a blue-chip company that recognizes the strength of Wisconsin's workers, infrastructure, economy, and quality of life. Microsoft chooses to locate and invest here because the future is right here in Wisconsin. Because I know there is.”

Transforming businesses of any size in any industry

Second, to help build a thriving regional AI innovation economy, Microsoft will establish the nation's first manufacturing-focused AI Collaborative Innovation Lab on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus. The lab connects Wisconsin manufacturers and other companies with Microsoft AI experts and developers to design and prototype AI and cloud solutions to improve and accelerate operations and grow their businesses. . The lab aims to serve 270 Wisconsin businesses, including 135 manufacturing companies, by 2030.

The lab will work with Green Bay's TitletownTech, which was co-founded in 2017 and funded in part by Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers. Microsoft and the Packers are also partnering to fund a new lab in Milwaukee that will be staffed in part by his AI experts from Microsoft and his venture experts from TitletownTech. It's a schedule.

“The Green Bay Packers are excited to continue the partnership we originally established with Microsoft and Title Town Tech near Lambeau Field,” said Mark Murphy, president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. We're excited and will continue to expand and strengthen this in collaboration with the AI ​​Collaborative Innovation Lab.” Green Bay Packers.

Creating a future-ready workforce

Third, reflecting the critical role of education and training in AI transformation, Microsoft is partnering with United Way Wisconsin, United Way Racine, and other community partners to reach more than 100,000 people across Wisconsin by 2030. We aim to improve people's generation AI skills. This curriculum helps train residents to use new applications such as Microsoft Copilot, a suite of Microsoft AI services that improves productivity and creativity.

Additionally, Microsoft will work with Gateway Technical College to train and certify 3,000 local AI software developers and 1,000 local business, civic, and government leaders to effectively bring generative AI to their organizations. We offer you the opportunity to participate in an immersive bootcamp where you can learn how.

These efforts highlight Microsoft's commitment to giving employees the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

Strengthen the central role of the community

And finally, a strong and vibrant economy is impossible without a strong and vibrant community. That's why we will invest in a series of long-term community education and youth employment programs to support the very communities that support us.

Microsoft is partnering with Racine Unified School District (RUSD) to work with girls in STEM to expand the program to two additional RUSD middle schools. This expansion will make her STEM education available to more than 500 middle school girls over the next five years. Microsoft works with Racine County to support the Summer Youth Employment Program, which matches at least 125 youth (ages 16-18) with local employers each year to receive soft skills and on-the-job training.

Microsoft will also continue to distribute Equity Through Technology and STEAM grants to more than 12,000 people across Racine County who participate in United Way programs. Announced in 2023, these grants will help local nonprofits address disparities and support under-resourced communities through the use of technology. Through investments and partnerships with local community organizations, Microsoft will contribute to the prosperity and growth of southeastern Wisconsin and help support communities with opportunity for everyone.

These announcements build on Wisconsin's tradition of business innovation and Microsoft's history of investing in the state. In 2017, Microsoft announced his TechSpark. It is an ecosystem-building program to promote economic opportunity and job creation, and is currently implemented in all 50 states. Microsoft is investing in Wisconsin's startup ecosystem through TitletownTech, a partnership with the Green Bay Packers, computer science and digital skills with local partners like gener8tor, digital inclusion with Microsoft Airband, and Northeast Wisconsin News Lab. We have also invested in local journalism.

environmental investment

Bearing in mind that business expansion must be done in a way that is consistent with protecting the environment and making energy affordable and accessible to all, Microsoft is partnering with National Grid to has built a new 250 MW solar power project that will begin operations in 2027. The additional solar power means Microsoft will have more than 4,000 megawatts of power flowing into the region's power grid by 2027. This is equivalent to the electricity needed to power more than 3 million homes. As part of this effort, Microsoft and National Grid will jointly contribute $20 million over the life of the agreement to a community fund that supports under-resourced communities and communities disproportionately affected by pollution. .

We are committed to ensuring water is managed responsibly. The new data center will feature a closed-loop cooling system that requires no additional water after startup and will use recycled water. This is a major step towards sustainability and responsible resource management. A relatively small portion of the facility uses water for cooling, but only when outside temperatures are very high.