MEVSD tackles misinformation with new approach | Data centers falling out of fashion at the State House? | Lower speed limits on Industrial Parkway in Jerome Township

The public policy environment supporting data center expansion in Ohio is undergoing a significant shift, with potential implications for regions like Union County. Economic Development Director Eric Phillips warned local leaders that the sales tax exemption, a key incentive making Ohio competitive for data center development, is now under close review at the Ohio Statehouse. Phillips noted that approvals are increasingly handled on a case-by-case basis rather than through a fixed formula. This comes amidst growing pushback and scrutiny over the cost of incentives, the strain data centers place on infrastructure (particularly energy and water resources), and questions about whether these projects generate sufficient long-term jobs to justify the tax breaks. Lawmakers are actively considering changes that could limit or reshape future data center development, indicating a more complex path ahead for projects that previously seemed certain.