Microsoft makes major land buy in Person County

Microsoft Corp. appears poised to launch a major project in North Carolina.

The Redmond, Washington-based technology giant on Thursday plunked down approximately $26.85 million for about 1,385 acres in Person County, according to county property records.

The land — in Woodsdale Township, which extends to the Virginia border — had been set aside for economic development purposes.

"Microsoft's presence in Person County will boost our local economy through direct and indirect means, leading to job creation, sustaining a low tax base, and enhancing housing opportunities, among other benefits," Brandy Lynch, Person County's economic development director, said in an email. Lynch said the deal has been in the works for about 18 months.

It was unclear late Thursday what exactly the company intends to do with the land. Microsoft didn’t immediately provide a comment when reached by WRAL. And Lynch didn't provide specifics about the company's plans.

"The company has been actively looking for development opportunities in the North Carolina market and worked with Person County leaders to select this site," Lynch said. "Microsoft has not finalized project plans, capital investment, or number of employees but will provide updates when there is more information to share."

A Microsoft spokesperson said a statement to WRAL on Friday: “Microsoft has nearly 50 years of supporting local business growth, community development, and innovation. We don’t have anything to share at this time about the purchase of land in Person County, but we are committed to working with the community as we move forward.”

Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on data centers and other infrastructure required to develop artificial intelligence technology. Microsoft reported Wednesday that it spent $20 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter, mostly for cloud computing and AI needs, including building computing centers supplied with specialized chips for AI technology, the Associated Press reported.

North Carolina economic development officials declined to comment late Thursday as they looked into the matter.

"It probably it has the potential to be the greatest economic development impact in Person County’s history," Person County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Gordon Powell said.

Person County resident Elizabeth Blackwell hopes the project will bring more jobs to the county. Many residents have to travel out of the county — to Greensboro, Durham or Raleigh — for employment. "The only thing is Person County doesn’t have enough jobs and industries for the people here," Blackwell said. "... If it is going to bring jobs to everybody and make our county grow, it would be great."

The land is one of a few so-called megasites in the state — an assemblage that economic developers reserve to attract major corporate investments in North Carolina. Large swaths of land are harder to find in this fast-growing state, and across the country. So state and local officials often work to assemble property and prepare turn-key sites capable of handling major industrial projects.

The strategy helped the state lure industrial battery manufacturer Natron Energy in August. The company is planning a high-tech plant that could bring almost 1,100 jobs to the Rocky Mount area. The company's proposed $1.4 billion facility is planned for a megasite that was prepared in Kingsboro. The Natron project is one of the biggest eastern North Carolina economic development deals in recent years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.