Seize the Opportunities

When our community has been asked to consider major projects like the AWS, Microsoft, or Synergy Cells projects, people have asked many tough questions. They should. At the same time, we need to view the full picture, not just the rumors or the loudest objections. Data centers are one of those issues where the conversation has been dominated by misconceptions, not just locally, but across the country. Often, the real, tangible benefits are overlooked.

Data centers have become critical infrastructure; our entire economy depends on them. Every time you stream a video, do online banking, a local business processes payment, a hospital accesses medical records, a manufacturer runs automated equipment, or a student logs into an online class, a data center is doing the work behind the scenes. Every one of us encounters a data center every day, whether we know it or not. They have become the digital equivalent of roads and power lines—they keep modern life functioning.

Modern data centers are quiet, clean, and low‑impact. They don’t produce smoke, noise, odors, or heavy truck traffic. They’re being built away from most residential development and will operate under very strict environmental standards. They are one of the least intrusive types of development a community can host.

AWS and Microsoft plan to invest billions of dollars in our community. That investment means thousands of construction jobs, mostly for local workers, as well as contracts for local companies, and long-term tax revenue that supports our county, our schools, roads, and public safety.

AWS and Microsoft share many of our community's priorities. Both are making major investments in our community and want very much to be a part of it. Both want to protect the investments they are making. Both also want to protect the environment and have strong track records for doing so. Both continue to innovate and plan to minimize their water and power needs. Both will become two of our largest taxpayers in the County, and AWS will be one of our five largest private-sector employers.

Water and power have been major concerns for residents, but not for the utilities that provide those services. The County has gone to great lengths to understand and protect the aquifer. I&M has taken similar steps on power, and in both cases, the companies will make major investments in the utility infrastructure that will benefit us all.

The site selection process is competitive. Companies like AWS, Microsoft, and GM/Samsung have selected our region because it offers the assets they are looking for: a skilled workforce, a strong business climate, reliable utilities, access to fiber networks, and available land. Not every community has that combination. We do. And if we choose not to use those strengths, we shouldn’t pretend the opportunity will simply wait for us.

Our County has a tough choice to make. If we don’t welcome data centers, other communities will—and already are. We’ve seen many Indiana communities welcome major data center investments. Today, our neighbors in Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan are aggressively courting many of the same projects eyeing our region. The demand for digital infrastructure is exploding, and companies will build these facilities somewhere. We must decide if we want tax revenue, jobs, and long-term economic stability—or whether we’re comfortable watching those benefits go to our neighbors.

Data centers are not a gamble—they’re a strategic investment in the future of our economy. They bring revenue without congestion, jobs without pollution, and growth without sacrificing the character of our community. St. Joseph County has a chance to position itself as a leader in the digital economy. The only real question is whether we’re willing to take that step—or whether we’ll watch other communities seize the moment instead.