“The data center project in Saline Township is the largest economic project in Michigan history.” — Gretchen Whitmer. Our verdict: True.
Whitmer made the claim in an interview reported by The Detroit News on 14 October 2026.
Our verdict
True
The claim is true. The Saline Township data centre is a $16 billion project, and the project’s contractor, an industry publication and an official Oracle announcement all describe it as Michigan’s largest economic investment.
What we found
The project’s location and scale are supported by announcements from its developers and reporting by Engineering News-Record. Related Digital and Oracle put the investment at $16 billion and identify Saline Township as the site.
Walbridge, the project’s general contractor, and Site Selection magazine describe it as the largest economic investment or development project in Michigan history. An Oracle announcement made with Governor Whitmer also uses that description. The comparison has not been established by a comprehensive independent audit of every project in Michigan’s history, but the available sources support the claim.
The evidence
5 of 6 sources support the claim; none contradict it.
- Supports the claim
Engineering News-Record reported that a $16 billion data centre project was under construction in Saline Township and was being cited as the state’s largest economic investment. [1]
- Supports the claim
Walbridge, the project’s general contractor, calls it the largest economic investment ever made in Michigan. [2]
- Supports the claim
Site Selection magazine identifies the Saline Township project as the largest economic development project in Michigan history. [3]
- Supports the claim
An Oracle announcement about the project’s construction describes the campus as the largest economic investment in Michigan history. [4]
- Supports the claim
Related Digital announced a $16 billion Oracle data centre project in Saline Township. [5]
- Background
The Detroit News reported Whitmer’s public characterisation of the project as Michigan’s largest economic project. [6]
What we could not confirm
- The project’s $16 billion cost has not been independently audited by a neutral third party.
- The ‘largest in history’ ranking has not been checked against a comprehensive independent record of all past Michigan projects, including older infrastructure investments.
How we checked
We reviewed project announcements from Oracle and Related Digital, reporting by Engineering News-Record and Site Selection magazine, and information from the project’s contractor, Walbridge. We also checked the Detroit News report in which Whitmer made the claim. We reviewed 10 relevant sources.
Sources
- [1]enr.com · Record $16B Data Center Project Advances in Michigan · June 2, 2026
- [2]walbridge.com · Walbridge Is Building the Largest Project in Its 110-Year History - Right Here in Michigan · May 5, 2026
- [3]siteselection.com · Michigan: Michigan Collects Billions in Investment - Site Selection Magazine
- [4]oracle.com · Oracle, Related Digital, Blackstone, OpenAI, Walbridge and Governor Whitmer Celebrate Construction of Stargate Campus in Saline Township · June 1, 2026
- [5]related.com · Related Digital announces financing for $16 billion Oracle data center project in Saline Township, Michigan | Related · April 24, 2026
- [6]eu.detroitnews.com · Elissa Slotkin cites AI 'weirdos' on data center pause, dings Whitmer · October 14, 2026
- [7]Photo: City of Detroit / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Have evidence we missed?
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Measured Take updates fact checks when new evidence emerges. Corrections are noted on the page.
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