Google Inc. has opted not to take a $4.7 million state grant to build a data center in the town of Lenoir, N.C. – a sign the company may be slowing down its expansion in the state.

But that’s not how it’s turned out so far. Google has built one data center building where it employs about 50 people – fewer than the 100 it expected to hire initially. And construction has stalled on a second building now that workers have finished its shell. But Google’s decision does indicate that a company that came to North Carolina with much fanfare will take things more slowly than planned.

Google told North Carolina Department of Commerce officials that it still plans to meet its job creation and investment goals as promised. But creating the jobs and building out the site will likely take longer than the four years the company expected. In a letter to economic development officials, Google said that “volatile economic conditions” have made it tough to figure out when the Lenoir site might get fully built out.