Digital First provides communities with information, analysis, and planning tools to assess potential data center projects.
ATLANTA — Data center development is expanding across Georgia, prompting communities to consider complex questions about economic development, infrastructure capacity, land use, public resources, and quality of life.
Between its affordable land, robust power infrastructure, and tech-friendly environment, the state boasts many attributes that make it an attractive location for data centers. Not surprisingly, demand for space to house them is high and growing.
But communities are often not prepared to meet that demand.
The Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute has launched Digital First™, a community-engaged planning program designed to help local leaders and residents understand the opportunities, impacts, and tradeoffs of digital infrastructure ideally before a specific project is proposed or a development decision needs to be made.
Georgia’s available land, power infrastructure, and technology sector have attracted interest from data center developers. At the same time, proposed projects can raise questions about property tax revenue, workforce needs, energy and water demand, supporting infrastructure, land use, aesthetics, and compatibility with community priorities.
Digital First provides data, analytical tools, subject matter expertise, and opportunities for public engagement. The program does not determine whether a community should approve or reject a particular project. Instead, it helps stakeholders identify concerns, tradeoffs, and policy considerations so they can make decisions based on unique local circumstances.
“Data centers can involve significant capital investment, but every community has different infrastructure, economic development goals, and quality-of-life priorities,” said Betsy McGriff, Digital First program strategist. “Our goal is to help residents and local leaders ask informed questions, understand the available information, and determine what makes sense for their community.”
Through listening and facilitated community engagement sessions, Digital First gives residents, public officials, economic development professionals, utilities, and other stakeholders opportunities to identify concerns, examine available evidence, and discuss how potential development could affect the community.
“We listen to residents’ questions and concerns and help stakeholders evaluate them using data, analysis, and relevant subject matter expertise,” McGriff said. “That process can give communities a clearer understanding of the choices before them and the tools to establish expectations consistent with their priorities.”
Digital First program areas of assistance include:
- Community engagement: Conducting listening sessions and educational forums where residents and other stakeholders can raise questions, review information, and participate in the planning process. This helps communities identify and assess potential economic, infrastructure, environmental, land use, and quality-of-life considerations.
- Revenue Planning and Analysis: Examining potential capital investment, employment considerations, and its effects on local government revenues and services.
- Infrastructure and resource assessment: Evaluating existing infrastructure, potential resource demands, and related issues with local utilities.
- Planning and regulatory frameworks: Developing best practices for land use and zoning policies, development standards, development agreements, and other tools that reflect community priorities.
As Georgia Tech’s economic development and business outreach organization, the Enterprise Innovation Institute, connects Georgia communities with research, expertise, and practical assistance. CEDR works with communities to strengthen local decision-making and build their capacity to respond to economic development opportunities and challenges.
“Georgia Tech can help communities approach complex development questions with credible information and a structured planning process,” McGriff said. “The ultimate decisions remain with local officials and the communities they serve.”
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI²) does not take positions on individual development proposals. This publication was prepared to support community understanding of the economic, workforce, infrastructure, and community considerations associated with potential development. The contents are intended solely for informational and educational purposes and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of, opposition to, or recommendation regarding any specific project, developer, government action, permitting decision, or development outcome.
For more information about Digital First, contact Betsy McGriff at betsy.mcgriff@innovate.gatech.edu.