A coalition of about 25 congregations and community organizations in St. Joseph County, Indiana, is asking Microsoft to make annual contributions tied to the cost of its planned $1 billion Granger data center. The proposed Fair Share Agreement would place the money in an independently governed fund for local social and environmental needs.
We Make Indiana says Microsoft has offered one-time nonprofit donations totaling up to $1 million, while the facility may benefit from state sales-tax exemptions on equipment. The group wants 1% of annual data-center costs during construction and operation, rather than discretionary grants. It points to strained health care, child care, transportation, elder care, and affordable housing services in the South Bend area.
Microsoft has promoted a “good neighbor” policy that includes paying local property taxes and investing in community priorities, but the company had not committed to the proposed formula. Data centers can add tax revenue and construction activity while also consuming land, power, and water; the size and distribution of those effects vary by site. The Indiana campaign is therefore a negotiation, not an established levy. Its outcome could influence how communities quantify long-term compensation for infrastructure built to support the AI boom.