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Google named as company behind Cedar Rapids' largest-ever economic development project

A $576 million data center proposal at the Big Cedar Industrial Center cleared a key state hurdle Friday, unlocking roughly $56 million in local property-tax exemptions over 20 years.

By Devin MarshPublished Jul 29, 2026, 1:27 AM CT1 min read
AI-generated editorial scene: A wide, elevated view shows a vast, flat expanse of cleared industrial land under a bright, overcast Iowa sky. In the distance, a line of mature trees borders the horizon, while the foreground features a gravel access road leading toward an empty, expansive construction site.
AI-generated editorial photo · CR Pulse Graphics Desk

Google is the company behind a proposed $576 million data center in southwest Cedar Rapids, city and state officials confirmed this week — ending months of speculation about the mystery tenant at the Big Cedar Industrial Center.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority board voted unanimously Friday to grant Cedar Rapids access to the High Quality Jobs program for the project, authorizing approximately $56 million in local property-tax exemptions over two decades. The city had previously approved a development agreement in February that set a $576 million minimum investment, construction to start within three years, and at least 31 new full-time jobs meeting state wage thresholds.

City officials call it the largest economic development project in Cedar Rapids history. The site sits along Edgewood Road SW and 76th Avenue, and the city's FAQ notes Google is considering one or more facilities there.

A community development agreement would pay the city $400,000 per year per data center for 15 years, capped at $6 million per facility. Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell called the project "unprecedented growth for Cedar Rapids" and a result of "tremendous momentum." Councilmember Ashley Vanorny said the annual payments could fund arts, trails, and other city priorities.

State Rep. Sami Scheetz described the project as putting Cedar Rapids "at the cusp of a new era" for technological innovation and long-term jobs.

The developer, Heaviside LLC, had been identified in earlier council actions before Google was publicly named. Alliant Energy, ITC, the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance, and IEDA are listed as project participants.

Google has not issued a public statement confirming the project. The city's development agreement includes a fallback tax-increment-financing rebate structure if the High Quality Jobs application had not been approved. Construction timelines, final facility count, specific job roles, and utility demands remain undisclosed.

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Sources

  1. 1.Google publicly named as company behind $576M data center project in Cedar Rapids — Iowa's News Now/CBS2 Iowa
  2. 2.Google Data Center Project — City of Cedar Rapids
  3. 3.City update on Google Data Center Project — City of Cedar Rapids
  4. 4.Cedar Rapids City Council approves $576M data center project — Iowa's News Now/CBS2 Iowa
  5. 5.Google named as company behind proposed $576 million Cedar Rapids data center — The Gazette
  6. 6.IEDA approves $56M local tax break for Google's $576M Cedar Rapids data center — Business Record
  7. 7.Google gets tax break for Cedar Rapids data center — Des Moines Register
  8. 8.Google named as company behind planned data center campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Data Center Dynamics
  9. 9.Cedar Rapids Legislators Announce Support for Landmark Data Center Project — Iowa's News Now/CBS2 Iowa

This story was researched, drafted, and fact-checked with AI assistance, then published automatically after passing TheCRPulse source, safety, visual, and editorial-readiness controls. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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