Over the last year, data centers have become one of the most talked-about topics in economic and community development, often being promoted as the next generation of economic development. The Athens County Economic Development Council (ACEDC) and Athens County Port Authority recognize the importance of digital infrastructure and understand the interest surrounding these projects. At the same time, we believe it is important to look beyond industry trends and evaluate whether they align with Athens County’s long-term economic goals before we allocate our time and resources.
The ACEDC and Port Authority exist to foster lasting economic opportunity that strengthens our communities, expands employment, and supports a good quality of life for current and future generations. Every opportunity is evaluated through the question: Will it create long term value for Athens County without also creating undue risk?
After careful consideration, we have determined that we will not dedicate our limited resources to actively recruiting data centers at this time. This decision is based on three primary considerations: (1) long-term infrastructure demands, (2) permanent employment, and (3) lasting economic value.
Infrastructure. Modern data centers can require significant electric capacity and, depending on the cooling technology used, substantial water resources. While utilities continue adapting to this rapidly evolving industry, the long-term impacts on electrical infrastructure, water systems, and increased costs for residents and businesses remain uncertain. We believe those uncertainties warrant caution rather than active recruitment.
Employment. Employment claims associated with data centers deserve careful scrutiny. Projects often combine permanent jobs with temporary construction employment, indirect jobs, and induced economic impacts. Construction activity can provide meaningful short term benefits, but the number of permanent on-site employees is typically modest relative to the scale of investment and land consumed. We believe efforts should prioritize industries that create sustained employment across a range of skill levels while offering opportunities for career advancement.
Long-term value. The most important question is what this industry will look like 20, 40, or 60 years from now. AI and cloud computing are rapidly transforming industries. Advances in efficiency and associated technologies could fundamentally change where and how data centers are built. It is not clear whether today’s large-scale data center model will be a long-term solution or a transitional phase. Given that uncertainty, we believe our limited resources are better invested in industries with more established and enduring economic benefits, including manufacturing, biotechnology, and business expansion.
Athens County’s history also informs this decision. For generations, Southeast Ohio supplied coal, timber, and other natural resources that fueled growth elsewhere. While those industries created jobs, they also left many communities with environmental impacts, shrinking tax bases, and economic hardship after the resources or markets declined. That experience reminds us that not every major capital investment creates lasting prosperity. We believe that our economic development efforts should focus on building wealth that remains in the community.
This position is not intended to suggest that data centers have no place in the modern economy. Digital infrastructure is essential, and we will continue monitoring the industry as technologies and market conditions evolve. However, our responsibility is to invest our time and resources in the priority sectors identified in our strategic plan and those that align with the County Sustainability Action Plan. These are industries we believe will provide the greatest long-term economic return for Athens County without creating undue risk for future generations.
