Local data center brings potential payoffs for families, county official says
Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan discussed the benefits of a $20-billion data center investment, highlighting its potential to generate revenue, lower property taxes, and create jobs. He also addressed public concerns, assuring residents that this project is located in an industrial park, uses off-site power, and surface water, differentiating it from negatively perceived data centers in other areas. The county has secured commitments in writing regarding services.
Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan addressed local residents regarding a $20-billion data center project, emphasizing its positive economic impact. Callanan stated the data center would significantly increase revenue and sales tax, potentially leading to one of the lowest property tax rates in Georgia and doubling ESPLOST collections for infrastructure improvements like roads and parks.
The project is expected to create nearly a thousand construction jobs over four years, followed by permanent positions for electrical engineers and HVAC technicians, with OpenAI ideally hiring locally. Callanan acknowledged public concerns, contrasting this project with negative examples elsewhere, noting it is situated in an industrial park with strong buffer requirements, powered off-site, and uses surface water to minimize local impact.
He also assured the public that the county has secured written commitments from OpenAI, leveraging water and sewer service provisions to ensure accountability.