SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — Springfield and Sangamon County are set to become key players in the booming data center industry, as global demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure accelerates. The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is actively positioning the region to attract significant investments from major technology companies over the next decade.
Ryan McCrady, President & CEO of SSGA, emphasized the economic benefits of data centers, stating, “Modern data centers are increasingly sustainable, quieter, and designed to integrate seamlessly into communities. At the same time, they bring enormous economic benefits, such as investment in renewable energy, job creation, and a stable tax base.”
John Duffy, an IBM z Systems Architect with Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc., highlighted the rapid innovation in the sector, noting, “Data centers have been part of our economy for decades, but the pace of innovation in just the last five years has been extraordinary.”
Several companies are currently evaluating Springfield and Sangamon County for new data center projects, which could employ more than 50 people each and generate up to $50 million in annual property tax revenue. Larger projects could reach $73 million within the first decade. McCrady stressed the importance of securing these developments locally, saying, “By welcoming this growth, we ensure that our community doesn’t just carry the utility impact, but also secures the jobs, investment, tax revenue, and economic benefits that come with it.”