It’s not every day that a $500 million private investment comes along – especially one with the potential to reshape the economic future of Sangamon County.
The proposed CyrusOne data center campus represents exactly that kind of opportunity: hundreds of jobs, a strengthened tax base, and long-term benefits for families across our region.
Economic development can sometimes feel abstract. Part of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance’s role is helping connect opportunities like this to meaningful progress for our community. We recognize that decisions like these affect many people, and we support this project because we believe it will contribute to the long-term economic prosperity of Sangamon County.
Among the many advantages this project brings, the most important is its impact on our tax base. Today, the proposed site where the CyrusOne Data Center would be built generates a very small amount of property tax revenue. Once developed, it is projected to contribute millions each year, funding schools, strengthening public safety and supporting the infrastructure our community relies on.
A broader tax base has a meaningful impact on a community and the services its residents rely on. When more businesses and employers contribute to the local tax base, communities are better positioned to keep up with rising costs without placing additional strain on residents and small businesses. In many ways, it works like sharing the cost of household expenses among more people — the overall responsibility is spread more evenly. A larger tax base helps support essential services such as schools, public safety and emergency response, while also contributing to greater long-term financial stability for the community.
A $500 million investment in our community not only means a stronger taxbase, though, it also means more jobs. From the skilled construction trades that will build this data center to the technical professionals who will operate it, these are careers rooted locally. Â They are jobs that support families, create opportunity and remain tied to this community.
Major investments also create ripple effects throughout the regional economy. Local contractors, suppliers, small businesses and service providers all benefit when development takes root. That economic activity strengthens the entire community and encourages other businesses to come here.
It’s also important to consider that communities across Illinois are competing aggressively for responsible, long-term investment that strengthens local economies. As demand for modern infrastructure and emerging technologies continues to grow, investments like this are becoming an increasingly important part of economic development. Sangamon County’s ability to attract a project of this magnitude speaks to the strengths of our community. If it isn’t built here, it will be built somewhere else. By welcoming this growth, we ensure that our community secures the jobs, investment, tax revenue and economic benefits that come with it.
Over the past several months, CyrusOne has engaged directly with local leaders, residents, emergency responders and infrastructure partners. They have listened. They have adjusted plans. They have demonstrated a willingness to be a responsible and collaborative community partner, which is essential for successful projects.
Throughout my 20 years working in economic development, I can tell you opportunities of this magnitude are rare. When they arise, they deserve careful, fact-based evaluation focused on long-term public benefit. That is precisely what has occurred. Independent electric grid operators, industry experts and local utility providers have reviewed the project, and the Sangamon County Board has devoted significant time and diligence to ensure every question is addressed.
I’ve also learned one essential truth as it relates to economic development: when growth is approached thoughtfully, it strengthens a community’s future. It supports jobs. It stabilizes public finances. It expands opportunities for the next generation for everyone who lives here.
For these reasons, the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance urges the Sangamon County Board to approve this important investment in our community’s future.
Ryan McCrady is president and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon County Growth Alliance.
