PRYOR, Oklahoma –
Google executives, as well as national and local leaders, announced Thursday that the global technology company would invest even more in Oklahoma.

Google announced that the continued expansion of its data center in Mayes County near Pryor brought the total business investment to more than $ 3 billion. They say it will increase local employment to more than 500 people.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced Thursday an additional $ 600 million investment in Oklahoma at a press conference.

Google says it's part of its $ 13 billion investment to expand data centers in the United States. Google has also announced the award of a $ 6 million grant to the National 4-H Council to support computer training in its chapters in Oklahoma and across the country.

"We are proud to invest an additional $ 600 million in the beautiful community of Mayes County," Pichai said. "The Pryor Data Center is part of the engine that enables Google to help billions of people around the world, and we look forward to being part of this community for years to come."

The Google Data Center opened in 2011 and already represents a $ 2.5 billion investment.

Before CEO Pichai ended the press conference, he observed a minute of silence in the honor of a Pryor employee killed in a car accident earlier in the week.