DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Chet Culver on Thursday announced plans for software giant Microsoft Corp. to build a $500 million data center in West Des Moines.

The plans include the creation of 75 high-paying technology jobs with an average salary of about $70,000.

"In making its decision, Microsoft recognized what we in Iowa have known all along — our work force and quality of life makes Iowa the best place for business," Culver said. "I am absolutely committed to bringing high-quality, innovative jobs to Iowa and with Microsoft's help, we're doing just that."

Michael Manos, Microsoft's general manager for data services, said the decision was made after a careful review of options around the world.

"Microsoft has a very significant site selection process looking for the very best places in the world to locate our facilities," Manos said.

The decision was announced at a Statehouse news conference that was attended by the state's top elected officials and business leaders. It comes as the state's economic development focus shifts toward renewable energy and information technology.

Manos said Microsoft chose Iowa because of the state's productive work force and its access to telecommunications infrastructure, both key ingredients to the creation of a data center.

"Microsoft selected Iowa after evaluating a number of locations across the country," he said. "Iowa provided the best all-around combination of attributes that we evaluate in an important selection such as this."

A data center contains computers and related equipment that provides services for businesses and individual customers. Manos described the facility as "the nerve center of the Internet."

"Iowa will be a key hub in that infrastructure moving forward," Manos said. "Microsoft serves over 500 million unique users in its Web properties every single month.

"There will be 500 million new people visiting Iowa through the auspices of this data center," he said.

The Legislature passed measures creating tax incentives aimed at luring the computer giant to Iowa, to build new power generating facilities and improve the state's communications network. Those efforts paid off with Microsoft's decision, said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

Martha Willits, head of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, said the combination of economic factors led to the Microsoft decision and could bring more.

"The region boasts available land, access to reasonably priced power, connectivity to state-of-the-art fiber optics and a highly educated work force that will help Microsoft achieve its goals in central Iowa," Willits said.

Microsoft was founded in 1975 and is based in Redmond, Wash., with 91,000 workers and revenues this year of $60.4 billion.