SSGA Promotes County as Data Center Destination

With global demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence on the rise, data centers are emerging as a significant driver of economic development. The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is working to position Springfield and Sangamon County as a strong candidate for these projects, which are expected to attract substantial investment over the next decade.

Data centers are secure facilities that store and process vast amounts of digital information, supporting services ranging from online banking to artificial intelligence applications. The Midwest has become a hub for new data center development, offering advantages such as reliable energy, central geography, stable climate, and growing access to renewable resources.

“These facilities power the technology we rely on every day,” said Ryan McCrady, President & CEO of SSGA. “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. Simply put, they are critical to modern life and a major opportunity for Springfield and Sangamon County.”

John Duffy, an IBM z Systems Architect with Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. (LRS), which is headquartered in Springfield, said the industry is on the verge of major expansion. “Data centers have been part of our economy for decades, but the pace of innovation in just the last five years has been extraordinary,” Duffy said. “Companies are designing facilities that use less water, generate less noise, and integrate more naturally into communities. At the same time, breakthroughs in quantum computing and AI are set to fuel unprecedented demand, positioning data centers for explosive growth in the years ahead.”

According to McCrady, multiple companies are currently evaluating Springfield and Sangamon County for potential development. Each site could employ more than 50 people and generate as much as $50 million in annual property tax revenue, with large-scale projects possibly reaching $73 million within the first decade.

“Springfield checks many of the boxes that data center developers look for, including location, power, safety, cost-effectiveness, and workforce,” McCrady said. “But if they don’t happen in Springfield, they will happen in other Midwest cities. And the impact that has on the energy grid will be the same regardless of whether the data centers are built in Illinois or somewhere else in the region. 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.”

Founded in 2018, the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance is a public-private partnership dedicated to advancing economic development in the region. The organization promotes business recruitment, retention, and workforce development with the goal of creating a financially sound community. More information is available at www.ThriveInSPI.org.