Virginia is getting a $9 billion boost for its tech infrastructure, with Google announcing additional investments to support growth in the state through the end of 2026.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin celebrated the announcement Wednesday, noting investment in cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Funding will also help develop a new data center in Chesterfield County and expand existing facilities in Loudoun and Prince William Counties.
“Google’s $9 billion investment in Virginia is a powerful endorsement of our Commonwealth’s leadership in the AI economy,” Youngkin said in a statement. “As AI is increasingly part of every aspect of work, this project reinforces our commitment to preparing Virginians for the future.”
Google will also invest in education and workforce development programs, while the new Chesterfield facility will become part of the company’s global network of data centers once complete.
“Investments like this not only expand Virginia’s cloud and AI infrastructure but also expand our efforts to build a future-ready workforce through initiatives like our AI Career Launch Pad,” Youngkin continued. “Virginia is the largest data center market in the world and remains a top-ranked hub for AI talent and innovation, where opportunity meets preparation.”
Part of the investment includes free access to the Google AI Pro plan for 12 months, AI training, and job search support for all Virginia-based college students.
Students, faculty, and staff from the University of Virginia, Brightpoint Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College are also part of the first cohort of the Google AI for Education Accelerator, which provides no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and AI training courses.
“Today we celebrate the continued growth of Virginia’s power tech sector,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “This is a truly historic investment for Chesterfield, for Virginia students, and for the future of the Commonwealth. Together with Google, Virginia is powering the future of global technological advancement.”
Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said the investment deepens Google’s ties to Virginia and extends the company’s investments to help position Virginia and the U.S. to take full advantage of technology opportunities.
“Google’s investments in technical infrastructure and AI skills development help to ensure that people across Virginia and across the United States have access to opportunity in this exciting era of American innovation,” Porat said.
