Economic development is fundamentally about setting the next generation up for success.
Every decision we make today shapes the kind of community our children and grandchildren will inherit. That responsibility requires careful consideration of both the opportunities and challenges that come with significant investment, and an honest assessment of whether a project is right for the community being asked to host it.
States across the country compete for major capital investment, jobs and economic activity, and data centers have become an increasingly significant part of that national competition. But competition alone should not determine Georgia’s approach.
The better question is how Georgia can remain economically competitive while ensuring communities have the information, protections and local authority necessary to evaluate major projects responsibly.
Our leaders at the State House should not limit the conversations to rapid, unrestricted growth or a statewide pause on development. Rather, Georgia should consider a path that ensures data center development occurs responsibly, transparently, and in ways that reflect local priorities.
In Fayette County, we’ve seen firsthand how transformational investments can shape a community. We’ve also seen how vital it is for residents to have access to information, a platform to ask difficult questions, and the opportunity to participate in conversations about their community’s future.
Georgians raise many legitimate concerns regarding data center development – questions about water resources, electric infrastructure, noise, traffic, land use and quality of life that deserve thoughtful consideration. Residents should expect transparency and meaningful engagement from both developers and public officials from the beginning of the process.
Recent polling reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that 84% of likely Georgia voters surveyed support new state requirements for data centers, including protections intended to prevent the cost of infrastructure needed to serve these projects from being shifted to existing Georgia ratepayers.
These are the kinds of guardrails that can give communities clearer information and standards for evaluating projects on their individual merits.
Accountability does not have to be at odds with economic development. Done well, it can help establish the public trust necessary for responsible development.
A corrected Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts analysis estimated that data center activity supported 8,505 construction-related jobs in 2025, generating approximately $1 billion in economic activity. The analysis also estimated 1,641 ongoing operations jobs and approximately $247 million in associated economic activity.
The same analysis examined four Metro Atlanta projects and estimated average annual property tax proceeds of nearly $28 million per project. For local governments, additional tax revenue can support schools, strengthen public safety, maintain infrastructure, and support the services residents rely on every day.
Economic benefits are only one part of the equation. Local voice should remain central to any conversation about future development.
Local officials and residents should have a meaningful role in determining where projects belong, what standards developers must meet, and whether the overall benefits and impacts align with their community’s long-term vision.
So, the question before Georgia legislators today is not simply whether Georgia should welcome or reject data center investment. The question is what framework will allow communities to evaluate these projects in a way that reflects local values, protects natural and infrastructure resources, and provides measurable benefits to the communities that host them.
We can protect water resources. We can require transparency. We can establish protections against shifting project-specific infrastructure costs onto existing ratepayers. And we can preserve meaningful local decision-making while establishing clear statewide standards.
Niki Vanderslice is the president & CEO of the Fayette County Development Authority.
