The first Microsoft datacenter facility in the Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, is now fully operational, the company announced on June 23, 2026, marking what it describes as a major milestone in its ongoing investment in Southeast Wisconsin.

The facility, known as Fairwater, completed construction ahead of its original schedule, powered by the labor of nearly 10,000 construction workers over two years.

An Early Finish and a Bold Claim

Microsoft brought equipment online and conducted startup activities in April before making the formal operational announcement.

The facility was first announced in May 2024, meaning the construction timeline ran approximately two years from announcement to completion. Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, made a striking claim about what the finished facility represents.

"With our Fairwater datacenter now fully operational, Wisconsin is now home to the world's most powerful supercomputer," Smith said.

"This campus will help power the next generation of AI innovation globally and provide long-term economic opportunity locally through hundreds of highly skilled jobs and continued investment in the region."

The statement positions the Mount Pleasant campus not merely as a regional infrastructure project but as a facility with global significance in the race to build AI computing capacity.

Jobs and Local Economic Impact

Currently, nearly 550 full-time employees are on-site supporting the first facility. Microsoft and its contractors are actively hiring, and the company expects that number to grow.

When a second facility under construction immediately adjacent to the first becomes fully operational, Microsoft anticipates total full-time employment in the Village of Mount Pleasant will reach approximately 800, with a further expansion to the north expected to bring hundreds of additional positions.

David DeGroot, Village President of the Village of Mount Pleasant, welcomed the announcement in strong terms.

"This is a historic milestone for Mount Pleasant and all of Racine County as we become home to one of the most advanced technology campuses in the world," he said.

"Microsoft's decision to invest here elevates our community into a destination for innovation and advancement. As this campus continues to grow, it will create lasting opportunities for residents, strengthen our regional economy, and help position Wisconsin for long-term success."

A USD 4.7 Billion Regional Commitment

Microsoft estimates it will have spent USD 4.7 billion between 2024 and 2028 on hyperscale construction locally in Wisconsin.

The company's purchasing activity has already spread across multiple counties in the state. Microsoft says it has directly purchased from 29 businesses across 11 Wisconsin counties, with the ripple effects of that spending reaching additional local companies through supplier networks, subcontracting, logistics and related services.

The company identified several specific categories of local procurement.

Construction suppliers in Racine County, contractors and steel fabricators in Outagamie and Marathon Counties, electrical equipment manufacturers in Rock and Columbia Counties, and machinery manufacturers in La Crosse County are among those benefiting from direct purchases tied to the project.

Construction Workforce Takes Pride in the Project

The scale and technical complexity of the project drew attention from organized labor. Michael Ervin, organizing director of Operating Engineers Local 139, commented on the significance of the build for his members. "I'm very proud of the work our members have done to build this facility," Ervin said.

"Since day one, they have helped build it safely, professionally, and with pride in their craft.

This isn't an ordinary construction project; our members are getting the chance to work on some of the most advanced infrastructure, and those skills and experiences will stay with them throughout their careers."

The involvement of nearly 10,000 construction workers over the project's two-year timeline underscores the magnitude of the physical undertaking required to bring a hyperscale AI datacenter from ground to operational status.

Second Facility Already Under Construction

Work on a second Microsoft datacenter facility in Mount Pleasant is already underway on land immediately adjacent to the first.

Current construction activities include foundation installation, steel erection, and underground utility placement. Microsoft has scheduled the second facility for completion in 2028.

The progression from the first facility to the second represents a continuation of the company's broader strategy for the campus.

Microsoft described its approach as guided by its Community-First AI Infrastructure commitment, which the company says is intended to ensure that AI infrastructure development occurs in partnership with local communities and delivers jobs, economic investment and shared local benefits.

The company also said it remains committed to being a good neighbor in Southeast Wisconsin and will continue working closely with local and state partners as it evaluates continued growth in the region.

The language suggests that additional expansion beyond the two currently announced facilities remains a possibility, though no specific plans for further construction beyond the second facility were detailed in the announcement.

Wisconsin Positioned as AI Infrastructure Hub

The completion of the Fairwater facility and the ongoing construction of a second building signal a sustained and expanding Microsoft presence in Racine County.

The investment draws together several threads: the demand for AI computing capacity, the need for large-scale physical infrastructure to support that capacity, and the economic development potential that such projects carry for host communities.

Mount Pleasant, a village in Racine County that gained national attention in recent years for its role in large-scale industrial development, now adds one of the world's most significant AI computing installations to its profile.

With nearly 550 employees already on-site, hundreds more expected, and a second facility scheduled for completion within two years, the campus is positioned to remain a significant economic presence in Southeast Wisconsin well into the next decade.