Skybox data center project delayed as company provides Wichita Falls update
Skybox told the Wichita Falls City Council that its planned data center project has been delayed by several months following statewide data center audits ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott. The project is now expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2027 and could create 300 to 500 permanent jobs, while also supporting regional electrical infrastructure upgrades.
Skybox representatives updated the Wichita Falls City Council on the company’s planned data center, saying groundbreaking has been pushed from late 2026 to the first quarter of 2027. The delay follows statewide data center audits ordered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, although Skybox Chief Development Officer Haynes Strader said the project meets the state’s new requirements and remains on track.
The six- to 10-building campus is expected to create an estimated 300 to 500 permanent jobs and bring 2,000 to 3,000 construction workers to the area. Strader said Skybox intends to prioritize local contractors and workers and argued that investments in transmission upgrades and new generation could improve electrical capacity for Wichita Falls and the broader region. The company also hosted a public open house at Midwestern State University.