KEY POINTS
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Spalding County, GA, commissioners have unanimously approved a $3.9 billion data center project by Wallace Jackson LLC, spanning 190 acres along Interstate 75 with 10 buildings totaling 5 million square feet.
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The project is seen as an economic win, with officials emphasizing there will be no taxpayer burden and potential tax reductions. However, residents have raised concerns about environmental impacts and the loss of farmland.
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ConstructConnect’s January 2026 Data Center Report highlights a fivefold surge in data center construction spending over two years, reflecting growing demand for large-scale data infrastructure.
Spalding County Approves $3.9 Billion Data Center Project
In a unanimous decision, Spalding County, GA, commissioners have greenlit a monumental $3.9 billion data center project spearheaded by Wallace Jackson LLC. The development spanning 190 acres along Interstate 75 will feature 10 buildings totaling 5 million square feet.
According to a FOX 5 Atlanta report, the project is being touted as a significant economic win for the region. County officials emphasized that the development would not burden taxpayers with costs and could potentially lower local tax rates.
Data Center Industry Trends Reflect “Extraordinary” Growth
The approval of the Spalding County project aligns with broader trends in the data center industry. According to ConstructConnect’s January 2026 Data Center Report, spending on data center construction has surged fivefold over the past two years.
Chief Economist Michael Guckes wrote that, “Although ConstructConnect has yet to finalize its December and full-year results, early indications suggest total 2025 spending will almost certainly exceed $60 billion.”
“The Data Center sector’s expansion has been extraordinary from a long-term perspective as well. Assuming full-year 2025 starts of at least $60 billion, this would result in a 4-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 98%,” Guckes added.
The report also highlights a shift toward fewer, larger, and more expensive facilities, with the average data center costing $597 million and $960 per square foot. Such growth underscores the increasing demand for data infrastructure across the United States.
What’s Next
The Spalding County decision, like similar data center approvals elsewhere, has not been without controversy. Residents in Georgia have voiced concerns over the environmental impact and the loss of generational farmland.
Despite the pushback, the project is moving forward, though details such as the construction timeline and operational start date remain unclear.
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