By now, even the haters have to admit that the iPhone 5 launch has been a big positive for the US economy, an expected one-third of a percent boost in gross domestic product (GDP) growth. However, the Cupertino, California-based maker of cool’s outsized economic impact doesn’t end there. Apple expansion, office space and data farms, is a big piece of the unfolding tech construction boom.
Yes, boys and girls, iPhone GDP effect is real with retailers, wireless carriers, peripheral makers and international express companies benefitting. That said, look for a similar if smaller Apple stimulus after the iPad mini ships on November 2 (see also: iPad mini Release Looms, Apple to Make 10m Units.
With that background comes news that the iPhone and iPad maker has broken ground on a new 700,000 square foot data center near Prineville, OR. In fact, the $68 million initial phase of the project is already under construction.
When finished, the Oregon facility, which will help to underpin Apple’s iCloud and iTunes, will be entirely powered by renewable sources.
This development comes on the heals of Apple’s already operational North Carolina data farm (image above) where the company has installed a massive 100-plus-acre solar farm and fuel-cell power plant.
The grand daddy of all Apple development projects will be the company new 3-million square foot “spaceship” campus in Cupertino, CA.
Taken together, these projects deliver millions of square feet of new productive capacity and thousands of new high-paying construction and technology jobs.
Further, Apple expansion is only part of the ongoing tech construction boom being fueled by Amazon, Google and Facebook, which are also building new office, engineering and data center facilities.
However you measure it, Apple has a huge net positive economic impact on the United States…
What’s your take?
Source: Bloomberg