Rejected Ferguson data center incentives revived
St. Louis County Councilman Nick Kasoff has proposed new legislation to revive tax incentives for a $1.8 billion technology hub and data center development in Ferguson. The original proposal was rejected months ago due to opposition over environmental protections, community benefits, and the size of the incentives. The developer has now committed to providing additional funds for neighborhood improvements.
St. Louis County Councilman Nick Kasoff has introduced new legislation aimed at reinstating tax incentives for a substantial $1.8 billion technology hub and data center project. The proposed development, slated for the former Emerson campus in Ferguson, seeks to revive a plan that was previously rejected by the St. Louis County Council.
In May, an earlier version of the proposal, which included a $1.5 billion tax abatement package, failed to secure approval from the council due to a 3-3 deadlock. Significant opposition arose from Ferguson residents, the St. Louis County NAACP, and the Ferguson-Florissant School District, who voiced concerns regarding environmental safeguards, community benefits, and the overall scale of the incentives.
Kasoff's renewed legislation calls for reconsideration of incentives for developer Jim Onder, who plans to transform the 217-acre site into a comprehensive technology, energy, manufacturing, and research center. According to Kasoff's Facebook post, the revitalized development is expected to generate substantial revenue for Ferguson, and the developer has committed an additional $7.5 million for neighborhood improvements over a decade.