Rural Florida can’t afford to sit this one out

Races aren’t won from the sidelines.

Yet some rural communities are sidelining themselves as the nation competes for the next generation of economic investment. In Florida, a growing number of local governments are considering moratoriums on data centers before fully evaluating the pros and cons these projects may bring.

To be clear, every community has the right and responsibility to carefully review proposed developments. Local leaders should ask hard questions. Residents should have a voice. Counties should establish reasonable standards that protect their quality of life and natural resources.

But there is a significant difference between thoughtful review and closing the door before opportunity even knocks.

The reality is that many rural counties are confronting population decline, smaller tax bases and fewer job opportunities for their residents. These communities must compete for investment in a rapidly changing economy.

Across the country, states are actively pursuing data centers and the infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and advanced technology. Data centers and artificial intelligence are now national security issues. Billions of dollars in private investment are being directed toward communities willing to engage in the conversation.

That investment translates into jobs, tax revenue, infrastructure improvements and long-term economic competitiveness for the communities that need it most.

Economists estimate that the construction of a single one-gigawatt data center could generate billions of dollars in economic activity, support tens of thousands of construction jobs and produce hundreds of millions in state and local tax revenue. More importantly, the benefits don’t end when construction crews leave. Data centers continue generating jobs, investment and tax revenue for years, giving local governments resources to invest in priorities that matter to residents. That is especially important given the impact current property tax initiatives could have on rural communities.

We don’t have to imagine what that looks like. Communities across the country have seen the results. In Catawba County, North Carolina, Apple’s data center became the county’s largest taxpayer. In Grant County, Washington, data center investment helped support major community improvements, including schools, healthcare facilities and public safety infrastructure.

Every community is different, and what works in North Carolina or Washington may not be appropriate for every county in Florida. But these examples demonstrate an important point: Data centers are major economic engines capable of creating long-term benefits for communities that choose to compete for them.

Each generation has infrastructure that drives economic growth. Data centers may be ours.

A data center might not be the right fit for every rural community. But neither were manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, railroads, airports or industrial parks. The question is not whether every project should be approved. The question is whether communities should refuse to consider an entire category of economic opportunity before they fully understand its potential.

When major transportation corridors were developed, some communities embraced them while others hesitated. When broadband infrastructure expanded, some areas moved aggressively to compete while others lagged behind. Today, access to digital infrastructure has become just as important to economic growth as access to highways, ports and rail lines.

Many rural counties continue to face challenges that urban areas often do not. They must diversify local economies. They must seek opportunities that allow young people to build careers close to home. And they must look for ways to strengthen tax bases without placing additional burdens on residents.

That is why rural Florida should be careful not to confuse caution with inaction.

Communities deserve the chance to weigh the facts, hear from experts, negotiate strong agreements and determine what works best for their future. What they do not deserve is to be removed from consideration before those discussions can even occur.

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Richard Williams is Chair of the Florida Rural Economic Development Association.