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Economic-development update: data‑center interest limited by power; housing and business retention efforts underway
Summary
Mark gave a quarterly economic-development update reporting interest from data-center prospects turned away by insufficient power/connectivity at the certified site, plans for business retention visits, focus on housing incentives and low-to-moderate-income housing, and a large sustainable aviation fuel proposal that was infeasible on local siting rules.
At the meeting, Mark delivered the ABC quarterly economic-development update. He said two data-center prospects reviewed the county’s certified site but determined the available power and connectivity could not meet their needs, which was a deterrent to those projects. “The connectivity and availability of that amount of power that they need for these data centers really is a deterrent to these projects at our site,” he said.
Mark said the Iowa Falls Housing Committee will focus on housing incentives and low-to-moderate-income housing options. He reported completing a round of business retention and expansion visits (with plans to visit around 35 businesses this year) and cited several local developments: a spec home sale in Georgetown, a new furniture store opening at River Hills Mall, and progress on the Princess Grill and Pizzeria construction that will add two apartments and repairs to the building facade.
Mark also said he reviewed a targeted industry analysis and will concentrate outreach on several identified industries. He reported an Ohio-based sustainable aviation fuel proposal seeking $400 million investment and 45 jobs required a 30-acre greenfield site and a one-mile buffer from residential neighborhoods, which put the county out of contention for that project. He summarized ongoing marketing and recruitment efforts and said he planned additional business outreach.
