Mayor Gray defends U.K. economic-development trip and directs staff to study data-center impacts

Mayor Gray defended a recent delegation trip to the United Kingdom as a strategic economic-development mission, saying it involved working sessions, site visits and meetings with defense and industry leaders rather than being a taxpayer-funded vacation. "This was not downtime," Gray said, adding the visits were intended to "bring back opportunities that translate into jobs, business growth and long term economic resilience" for Hampton.

Gray said the delegation engaged with global companies and allied partners and visited innovation centers to deepen ties in advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, logistics and emerging defense technologies. He said Hampton must maintain a seat at the table as regional defense and industrial investments accelerate.

On digital infrastructure, Gray told the council and residents that the city will increase its engagement on data centers. He said council and staff will tour two data-center facilities next month (some portions will be in closed session) and that staff will present an overview of data centers and digital infrastructure in an open work session so the council can evaluate potential benefits and impacts, including land-use and community character considerations.

Gray said the city seeks to "be educated about" data centers so council can make informed decisions if proposals come forward and emphasized balancing growth with preserving the city's character. He said the tours and work session will be publicly noticed and that staff will report back to the council on findings and policy options.

The mayor’s remarks framed the trip and the data-center study as part of an economic-development strategy tied to regional defense-sector growth; he did not announce specific project approvals or funding commitments and said the city will share what it learns at future public meetings.