Wrightsville hosts AVAIO forum on proposed Pulaski County data center campus near I-530

Wrightsville city leaders hosted a community town hall on Monday night with representatives from AVAIO Digital to discuss a proposed large-scale data center campus in southeast Pulaski County, near Interstate 530. The meeting, held at the Wrightsville City Gym, aimed to provide direct access to the developer following a previous town hall that left residents with unanswered questions.

AVAIO Digital emphasized its commitment to being a good neighbor and following regulatory processes, stating the project could bring billions of dollars in private investment, new tax revenue, and long-term job opportunities. The company projects 70 permanent jobs for its first two buildings and over 1,000 construction jobs.

Despite these assurances, many Wrightsville residents expressed ongoing concerns, particularly regarding the campus's projected water usage of 8,000 gallons per day and electricity demand of 150 megawatts. While utility providers Entergy and Central Arkansas Water have indicated they can meet this demand, and AVAIO Digital claims to have necessary environmental permits, some residents reported being unaware of the project plans.

Wrightsville Mayor Derrick Rainey stated the meeting's purpose was for residents to hear directly from AVAIO, while also acknowledging significant community opposition to the development. The discussion is set to continue, with the Pulaski County Quorum Court scheduled to meet on July 23rd to further address the proposed data center campus.