Wichita Falls economy boosted by data center, infrastructure

Wichita Falls city leaders, including Mayor Tim Short, unveiled a renewed economic development strategy at the Chamber’s State of the Economy forum, prominently featuring a proposed data center project by Skybox Datacenters. The initiative aims to foster sustainable growth, create long-term jobs, and enhance the city's tax base, potentially leading to lower property taxes and increased investment. Moriah Williams, President of Forward Wichita Falls, emphasized the financial benefits of the Skybox Datacenters project. Jack O’Neill, Senior Development Associate at Skybox Datacenters, provided details about the facility, describing it as a large building housing computers, air conditioning, and power infrastructure for connectivity. O'Neill also addressed public concerns about water consumption, clarifying that the facility will use efficient closed-loop cooling systems, requiring an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 gallons to fill initially and 150,000 to 400,000 gallons annually primarily for non-cooling uses, comparable to a large residential swimming pool. Gordon Kellerman, Executive Vice President of Sales and Leasing at Skybox Datacenters, highlighted the significant employment opportunities, including 3,500 to 5,000 laborers during the 5-7 year development phase and 300 to 500 permanent jobs. Developers expressed their commitment to ongoing community engagement as they move forward with the project, with groundbreaking anticipated by the end of the year.