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Microsoft has acquired nearly 340 acres in Cherry Valley, Illinois, for a potential data center, investing at least $32.3 million. The company secured a special use permit for light industrial uses but has not moved forward with construction plans.

The data center could create 300 high-tech jobs by 2030 to support Azure cloud computing services. However, plans for construction, originally scheduled for summer 2026, are now uncertain due to concerns over construction costs and material price fluctuations. The site remains in agricultural use as Microsoft evaluates the situation, with the next step being the application for building permits.