Louisiana is exceptional. Anyone who has attended a football game in Death Valley, experienced the culture and culinary workings of New Orleans, or soaked in the peace of a sunrise over the Atchafalaya can attest to this fact. When data center investment began pouring into the state — and communities began to experience strengthened infrastructure and economies — it seemed to be an endorsement of the Pelican State’s exceptionalism. However, Louisiana’s experience with data centers is not entirely unique. Communities around the nation are experiencing historic levels of investment, revitalizing their infrastructure, and welcoming an economic lift because of data center projects.
Loudoun County, Virginia, known as “the data center capital of the world,” is home to over 200 data centers and often cited alongside Richland Parish as an economic success story fueled by the infrastructure of the digital age. The county reports the creation of over 17,000 direct and indirect jobs related to data centers. Even more staggering numbers are found in the county’s tax revenue: “In Fiscal Year 2026, data centers generated $1.2 billion in real and personal property tax revenue, representing 39% of the county’s overall budget. The FY 2027 adopted budget projects data center revenue at $1.3 billion, representing 40% of the total budget.”
Job growth rates in Loudoun are outpacing nearby areas and the Wall Street Journal reported that this extends beyond jobs immediately related to data center operation and construction. “Most counties surrounding the capital have experienced little job growth since the pandemic. Loudoun is the exception, with employment surging 17.4% since early 2020….Job growth from data-center construction also appears to be having positive spillover labor effects in other industries. Employment in leisure and hospitality increased 6.8% in Loudoun while declining in other D.C. suburbs since early 2020.”
Unlike Loudoun County, Montgomery County, Missouri is not a hot spot for hundreds of data centers. However, that does not keep its people, schools, and businesses from feeling the real impacts of substantial investments. In June, the county welcomed a hyperscale Amazon facility and over $10 million in investment. The rural county is using the newfound resources to strengthen emergency response mechanisms and create new community spaces. Amazon’s official announcement of the project included a nod to the infrastructure improvements that would accompany the investment, specifically roads and waterways. Shortly before the Amazon announcement, Google also committed $15 billion to construct a data center in Montgomery County. Part of Google’s commitment includes job development, infrastructure expansion, and promises to protect energy prices and water supply.
The metaphors of “lottery” and “gold rush” are often used to describe the experience of the counties and parishes that attract large data center investments. Often, city officials will temper their praise of the project with addendum about not wanting to become reliant on the sudden influx of investment dollars. This instinct is fiscally prudent. There is a real opportunity for local and state governments to leverage these investments in a way that benefits their municipalities for years to come, entirely separate from data centers. Upgrading general infrastructure and prioritizing workforce development can strengthen the broader economic environment. Data center construction also invites officials and policymakers to examine the regulatory climate and permitting processes under which they operate. These projects can offer a catalyst for refining, streamlining, and improving the regulations which govern them. By encouraging a pro-business, pro-innovation framework during the “data center” boom, regions can make themselves compelling candidates for future tech investment and industry.
From parishes in Louisiana to counties in Virginia, data center construction projects are bringing economic activity and infrastructure investments to areas previously ignored by the tech industry. This presents a wonderful opportunity for the towns hosting them, but also a challenge: to capitalize on these investments with fiscal prudence and an eye for the future. Louisiana is exceptional, and setting our communities up for success through strategic investment is a good way to continue letting the rest of the country know it.
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