The Indiana Senate has approved what has been described as one of the most aggressive technology and data center innovation economic development bills in the United States. The Senate in its vote on March 25 modified House Bill 1405 to include a Buy Indiana amendment. Legislators plan to move the bill through the reconciliation process, and, when it become law, it will facilitate the Digital Crossroads project in Hammond, WRBI Radio has reported.
“The Indiana Senate today sent a serious message to the entire data industry that Indiana is very serious about becoming their destination of choice for expansion.” said Tom Dakich of Digital Crossroads. “We thank the Sen. Travis Holdman, Sen. Mark Messmer, Sen. Ed Charbonneau, Sen. Lonnie Randolph and Sen. Eddie Melton for their bi-partisan leadership.”
“Not only does House Bill 1405 bring Indiana into consideration for companies looking for data center expansion but it also evens the playing field throughout all counties in our state by creating tiers of investment for smaller counties,” Dakich was quoted as saying.
Under House Bill 1405, the equipment purchased by companies that seek data center services are exempt from business personal property tax and the state’s sales tax. Additionally, electricity used by customers for qualified data centers’ equipment will be exempt from state sales tax. The Buy Indiana amendment creates an additional exemption for construction costs if 75 percent of materials, professional services and labor used for rehabilitation or construction for the qualifying data center is sourced from Indiana vendors.
Digital Crossroads, a data center complex currently under construction in Hammond, is one organization that will benefit from the tax exemptions. Digital Crossroads will be able to provide these state benefits and tax exemptions to its local, domestic and global customers, the radio station reported.
