According to reporting by Tony Messenger in stltoday.com, it's a case of old-tech vs. new-tech in an economic development battle currently brewing in the Missouri statehouse.
Supporters of the concept of adding tax incentives for data centers to an economic development bill being debated in the special session of the state's Legislature continue to put pressure on Governor Jay Nixon to expand his call.
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Yesterday, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce released a study that indicates that just one large data center in the state could produce $40 million in tax revenue for Missouri in its first five years, based on construction and operation costs.
According to the report, several major companies are considering Missouri for data centers that could cost more than $1 billion each, say those pushing to have the tax incentives added to the bill.
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Governor Nixon has been heretofore unwilling to consider the incentives for data centers. The proposed bill also gives $150 million in incentives to Ford and other automotive manufacturing companies over 10 years.
"If the reason for calling the special session in the first place was to create jobs and secure additional state revenues, then there is a strong case for including data center incentives," said Missouri Chamber president Dan Mehan, in a statement.
SOURCE: stltoday.com