St. Louis County Councilman Proposes Revival of Data Center Tax Incentives in Ferguson
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. This comes months after the initial $1.5 billion tax abatement package for the project was rejected by the council due to community opposition over environmental protections and incentive size.
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. This proposed development is slated for the former Emerson campus in Ferguson.
The initiative faced a setback in May when the St. Louis County Council, in a 3-3 deadlock with one abstention, failed to approve a $1.5 billion tax abatement package. The original proposal encountered considerable opposition from Ferguson residents, the St. Louis County NAACP, and the Ferguson-Florissant School District, who raised concerns regarding environmental protections, community benefits, and the substantial size of the incentives.
Kasoff's renewed legislation seeks to reconsider incentives for developer Jim Onder, who plans to transform the 217-acre campus into a multifaceted technology, energy, manufacturing, and research center. According to Kasoff's recent Facebook post, the project is expected to generate significant revenue for Ferguson, and the developer has committed an additional $7.5 million for neighborhood improvements over a decade.