After more than 13 months of secret negotiations with state and local governments, Google has agreed to build a $600 million computer center in Lenoir.

The decision, announced Friday, brought into full view the price of pushing a struggling community into the 21st century.

State, city and county governments slashed Google's tax bill -- potentially more than $100 million over 30 years -- to win the project and the 210 jobs it is expected to create within four years.

"The incentives are great, but we think the benefits are great, too," said Lenoir Mayor David Barlow.

Lenoir and Caldwell County leaders expect the company that provides the world's most popular Internet search engine to bring a new identity to the region. The area has been defined, and devastated, by furniture and textiles. Officials have fought to recover from declines that prompted factory closings and thousands of layoffs.

They're counting on Google to jump start the economy and pull in more development to the area about 200 miles west of Raleigh.