Officials reached a preliminary agreement on Tuesday, Aug. 26, on water and sewer services for the planned Microsoft data center near Cleveland Road and Capitol Avenue.

The memorandum of understanding doesn’t bind the parties but sets the stage for a long-term partnership as all sides define their roles.

St. Joseph County Economic Development Director Bill Schalliol said the next 45 to 60 days will involve mapping service areas and conducting engineering studies.

He added that Microsoft drove the agreement, which could bring revenue and improve utility planning for the Granger area.