COUNCIL BLUFFS — As more than half a dozen construction cranes stood around the data center campus Tuesday, Joe Kava, Google’s global vice president of data centers, said the tech giant plans to spend another $1 billion to expand in Council Bluffs.
From left, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa; Joe Kava, Google’s global vice president of data centers; Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds; and Dan Harbeke, Google’s regional head of external affairs and public policy, talk Tuesday after the announcement that Googles plans to expand in Council Bluffs.
The $1 billion expenditure will finance the construction of three new buildings on the existing data center site.
Construction of the new buildings is expected to be completed in about six months to one year. Kava told a crowd of business and elected officials — including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra — that Google’s Council Bluffs data center, which has been in place for about 15 years, will be “one of the world’s largest data center campuses” when expansion is completed.
“As companies and businesses grow, we’re going to grow right along,” he said.
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The expanded data center, Kava said, will facilitate the company’s efforts to bolster its cloud computing and artificial intelligence initiatives. Google’s existing Council Bluffs data helps keep some of its most-used programs, including Google Maps and Cloud, running.

Joe Kava, Google’s global vice president of data centers, on Tuesday announces a $1 billion investment in its Council Bluffs data center.
The data center’s expanded capabilities, Kava said in an interview, will “continue to help the customers here in Iowa locally.”
“But it has greater presence both nationally and potentially internationally as well,” he added.
Tuesday’s announcement marks the latest development for Google’s data centers in the Omaha area. The company is building a new data center in northwest Omaha to join existing data centers in Council Bluffs and Papillion.
In an interview, Feenstra said Google’s Council Bluffs data center has been and will continue to be a “game-changer” for Council Bluffs and Iowa.
“We want to continue to be the mecca for the distribution of AI and (cloud) computing,” Feenstra said.
In a press release, Google said its Council Bluffs data center has spurred more than $1.8 billion in economic activity in Iowa. Google added that the new $1 billion investment is on top of the more than $5.5 billion Google has poured into Iowa since 2007, the company said in a press release.
Google donates $1.3 million for water projects
Kava also announced Google has donated $1.3 million to help the Great Outdoors Foundation with its water quality and conservation projects in the southwest Iowa portion of the Missouri River Basin.
Great Outdoors Foundation CEO Hannah Inman said Google’s donation will help the foundation fund 47 projects to reduce stormwater runoff and erosion, improve flood resiliency, water quality and aquatic habitats. The projects, Inman said, will help local watersheds and “positively” affect the water quality in the Missouri River, Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
The timing of Google’s donation to the Great Outdoors Foundation was not lost on officials. The donation came as the Missouri River continues to flood.
“Unfortunately, it’s not the last time we’re going to face such an issue,” Kava said of the flooding. “These preservation and (other) programs … are so important. It’s not just for right now, but it’s for the future.”
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2024

A severe thunderstorm that had two-inch hail it is seen over Omaha on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

The sun sets behind the downtown Omaha skyline as seen from Council Bluffs, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Fans throw Florida’s Pierce Coppola (18) a marker so he can autograph a ball during a Men’s College World Series practice at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Florida’s Caden McDonald (21) has a throw bounce up from the dirt during a Men’s College World Series practice at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

NC State’s Cooper Consiglio (28) gives a fan a pen after signing an autograph during a Men’s College World Series practice at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Kentucky’s Ryan Hagenow (24) throws in the outfield during a Men’s College World Series practice at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Dan Bouska examines a baseball glove sent in for repair in his basement shop in Omaha on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Kelly McManus skates at Lynch Park in Omaha on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Creighton men’s basketball player Sterling Knox helps Jackson McLaughlin dunk the ball during the sixth annual Creighton Abilities Camp, in Omaha on Friday, June 7, 2024.

Eh Say sits for a portrait outside of Benson High School in Omaha on Monday, June 3, 2024. Say was awarded a scholarship from Lutheran Family Services.

The April 26th tornado severely destroyed the Savic home located at 5419 N. 212th Street, in Omaha, photographed on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

The April 26th tornado severely destroyed the Savic home located at 5419 N. 212th Street, in Omaha, photographed on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

A severe thunderstorm that had two-inch hail it is seen over Omaha on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.