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Mayor says Google data center will bring major construction jobs and millions in permit revenue
Summary
In the State of the City address the mayor described redevelopment of a brownfield at 402 Royal Road into an $800 million Google data center, said the project has generated about $6.87 million in permit fees and could employ roughly 1,000 construction workers, and tied some new-project revenue to a proposed hardship fund for utility customers.
The mayor told attendees that a planned Google data center on a former brownfield at 402 Royal Road will be a defining investment for Michigan City, bringing substantial construction activity, local contractor participation and significant permit revenue to the city.
"This $800 million project…we received 6.8 8 million in permits last year and we're going to receive another big check this year just in permits," the mayor said, characterizing the permit payment as "Christmas in December for real." She said the site has drawn Michigan City, LaPorte County and regional firms to the effort and estimated about 1,000 people will work on the site during construction.
Why it matters: City leaders said the permit revenue flows into the general fund and will support city services; the mayor also described using a portion of economic-development proceeds tied to large projects to establish a hardship assistance fund to help residents avoid water disconnections during planned utility upgrades.
City context and next steps: The mayor framed the data center as part of a broader economic momentum that includes multiple downtown and industrial investments. She said the project’s scale means it will be a "conversation for generations to come" and urged transparency and community engagement as infrastructure and services are adjusted to accommodate growth. The administration did not provide project permitting schedules or an operations timetable in the address.
Quotes: The mayor said the project "is significant" and that she will "always put Michigan City first" when negotiating community benefits and local contracting. An audience member asked for clarification on the citywide capital estimate and the mayor confirmed an estimated $1.3 billion in capital investment across the city during 2025.
What the address did not resolve: The speech did not include an exact construction timeline, detailed employment commitments from Google, or environmental permitting details. The mayor said the city supports local contractors' participation but did not provide a vendor or subcontracting breakdown. Federal, state or independent environmental approvals and timelines were not cited in the address.
Next steps: The mayor indicated more details would appear in online presentation materials and through forthcoming council and staff briefings where permitting, infrastructure impacts and community benefits will be discussed further.
