A $20 Billion Investment in Effingham County's Future
The proposed Effingham County Data Center Project is one of the most important economic development opportunities in our county’s history — bringing high-paying jobs, significant property tax relief, and lasting support for our schools, roads, and community services.
LETTER TO OUR NEIGHBORS
Dear Citizens of Effingham County,
Our organization is proud of our county and the fact that it is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Our focus at the ECIDA is simple: to maintain quality living while creating more and better job opportunities for our citizens and future generations.
While we listen to all companies that express interest in our county, we are selective in whom we pursue. We want companies that expand and grow our tax base, create high-paying jobs and are good corporate citizens. We regularly seek the input of leaders and elected officials throughout the county when we consider new opportunities.
It is important to the ECIDA for you to know the facts and issues related to any new industry and how it affects our county and all of our citizens. We have been approached by many data center opportunities in recent years, and we have invested significant time in researching, listening, learning, and asking questions before deciding to move forward. We have also engaged many in our community in this process including leaders from the county, school system, and other elected officials. We all agree that this data center provides tremendous benefits, particularly in reducing property taxes and increasing school funding, which are priorities to every citizen.
Please take a few minutes to review this website to get the facts. We will be very responsive in answering questions people have and keeping the public involved in the progress moving forward.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
Effingham County Industrial Development Authority
To read the joint press release from the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, Effingham County Board of Commissioners and the Effingham County School District, please click here.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
What Is Being Proposed?
$20 Billion Investment
The project is one of the largest private capital investments in the history of coastal Georgia. The financial impact of the project will substantially reduce property taxes for all homeowners and increase needed funding for our school system.
400 High Paying Jobs
Creation of an initial 400 technology-focused jobs offering high-skill, high-paying employment in addition to thousands of construction jobs.
Minimal Impact
Minimal traffic post construction and limited to employee vehicles.
Staggered Operational Shifts
24/7 operations with staggered shifts to reduce peak-hour congestion.
Site Location
This project would utilize 1,440 acres located within a current industrial park adjacent to existing industries.
4 Buildings
~720,000 Sq Ft Each
35 Ft Max
Building Height Limit
Construction Timeline
Phased construction timeline over a projected five-year period.
Want more information? Please visit the project’s website here.
Benefits for Effingham County
Due to the comprehensive partnership between OpenAI, Effingham County Board of Commissioners, ECIDA and the Effingham School District, the community will be supported by this project in multiple areas directly benefiting our citizens. The positive impact for our schools and community enable the County to be one of the best areas to work, live and play within the Coastal Georgia Region.
Some of the direct benefits for our community include:
Economic Benefits
- Significant private investment in the community by a leading technology company.
- Substantial increase in the local tax base without placing significant demands on public services.
- Opportunity to reduce the property tax burden on residents through increased tax revenue.
- Long-term, stable source of industrial tax revenue to support community priorities and essential services.
- Construction jobs during development and permanent, higher-paying careers in technology, facilities management, security, and operations.
- Diversifies the local economy by attracting investment from a growing technology sector.
Community Benefits
- Fewer commercial vehicle trips, resulting in less road wear and reduced exhaust emissions.
- Built on existing industrial property, avoiding the need to develop residential or agricultural land.
- Buffer areas exceeding required standards, helping preserve surrounding properties and community character.
- Thoughtful site design that prioritizes compatibility with neighboring land uses.
Environmental & Infrastructure Benefits
- Very low daily water consumption through a closed-loop cooling system.
- Off-site power generation that minimizes on-site operational noise.
- Reduced vehicle emissions due to significantly lower traffic volumes than traditional distribution or manufacturing facilities.
- Limited demand on local public services relative to the tax revenue generated.
Responsible Development
- Extensive due diligence by local leaders to ensure the project reflects responsible growth.
- Project informed by lessons learned from similar developments in other communities.
- Company has demonstrated a willingness to listen and adapt by addressing community concerns throughout the planning process.
- Balances economic development with protecting the quality of life residents expect.
Long-Term Value
- Creates a lasting financial asset that benefits both current residents and future generations.
- Strengthens the community’s ability to invest in infrastructure, public safety, and other local priorities.
- Positions the community to compete for future high-value economic development opportunities.
- Demonstrates that major investment and responsible growth can go hand in hand.
Supports Effingham County Board of Commissioners' Project Zero to Eliminate Homestead Property Taxes
Project ZERO is an initiative by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners to eliminate county property taxes for qualifying homestead properties by 2028. Through strategic economic growth, new state-authorized tax relief tools, and voter-approved funding mechanisms, the County is working to shift the burden of County M&O property taxes away from homeowners while maintaining essential county services.
Based on Effingham County Board of Commissioners’ estimates, eliminating homestead property taxes will save the average county homeowner almost $1,000 per year.
This new industry supports the key objectives of Project Zero:
- Helps eliminate county homestead property taxes
- Adds billions of dollars in taxable investment from industry
- Increases business-generated sales tax revenue
- Broadens the county’s non-residential tax base
For more information about Project Zero, please visit https://projectzero.
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
Innovative Support for Our Schools
This specific project will commit a transformative $32 million annually to Effingham County Schools. This influx of stable, predictable revenue for the school district will directly fund new facilities, teacher salaries, technology upgrades and student programs – all without increasing the tax burden on families in the area.
Expanded Programs
More resources for special education, extracurricular activities, sports and the arts that make a well-rounded student.
This project will allow the Effingham County School District to continue leading the way in STEM education and grow its AI pathways.
Champion our Educators
Salary raises and professional development opportunities to help attract and retain educators.
New & Renovated Facilities
Direct funding for school construction, modern classrooms, labs, and extracurricular spaces.
To learn more about how this project positively impacts our school district, please click here.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Your Questions Deserve Straight Answers
"The data center will strain our water supply."
No. The facility uses a closed-loop cooling system specifically designed to minimize daily water consumption.
"Our Electricity Rates Will Go Up Because of the Data Center."
Georgia regulations passed by the Public Service Commission protect citizens from increased rates. This facility will be required to pay for all expenses related to power use.
"This will create a lot of noise and truck traffic in our neighborhoods."
The operation is specifically located in an industrial park next to other large scale industries. The data center, once built, will significantly reduce traffic compared to another warehouse which is the alternative use for this land. The data center will also have staggered shifts for the 350 employees which will further reduce traffic during rush hour.
"The property tax benefits aren't guaranteed."
If approved by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners, the project will generate substantial revenue directly supporting property tax relief for local citizens, particularly homeowners. If Project Zero is subsequently approved by Effingham County voters through the required referendums, that revenue can be used to reduce—and ultimately eliminate—county property taxes for qualifying homestead properties. School officials have been actively involved in this process and believe it will have a significant positive impact on school funding to protect the quality of our county school system for decades to come.
For more information or to submit a question about the project, please email the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority at info@effinghamindustry.com.