The Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) launches Digital First Communities: a strategy for community-engaged planning for data centers.
ATLANTA — Data centers are big business in Georgia.
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 Digital First Communities (DFC) program helps local governments move from uncertainty to strategy. Rather than responding after a site has already been selected, DFC equips local governments with tools and frameworks to plan for digital infrastructure before a developer arrives. The program helps communities shift from a reactive posture to a strategic partnership with Georgia’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
According to Betsy McGriff, Digital First program specialist, educated and informed communities not only experience less post-site selection pushback from their citizens, they’re also better situated for data center project development to move quickly once it’s begun.
“Data centers pair high capital investment with low demand for public services, which results in positive revenues for communities. While these developments can feel like a complex unknown, the Digital First program is designed to put residents and local leaders in the driver’s seat,” McGriff said.
Digital First Communities helps citizens understand the impacts and benefits of data centers, while empowering them to participate in design decisions determining how those new centers will fit into their community.
“Through multiple community engagement sessions, we replace misconceptions they may have with technical facts about modern digital development. Our DFC program cuts through the confusion and fears communities have to give them a voice and at the end of the process help craft ‘Good Neighbor Agreements’ that maintain community identity and quality of life.”
The Digital First Communities advantage is built on:
- Technical Foundation: Includes property tax digest impact analyses and site viability evaluations of critical support infrastructure.
- Resource Stewardship: Analysis of existing infrastructure to determine current capacity and identify synergies and potential challenges.
- Community Alignment: Town-hall style listening sessions focused on engagement and education to dispel myths and outline risk-benefit mapping, so citizens become informed participants.
- Regulatory Framework: Establishing aesthetic standards and model ordinances to maintain community quality of life and prevent spot zoning.
As a part of the Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Tech’s socioeconomic development arm, CEDR is committed to translating world-class research into real-life solutions for communities statewide.
“Though this program, Georgia Tech is bringing its expertise to bear to help communities give careful consideration to how they want to prepare for the economy of the future,” McGriff said.
“We listen to resident concerns and answer them with verified data and subject matter expertise. Digital First takes the unknown out on the equation.”
For more information about Digital First Communities, contact Betsy McGriff at betsy.mcgriff@innovate.gatech.edu