City attracts data center developer

A real estate development company is likely to build a data center in northeast Columbia that would employ high-wage workers, according to local economic development officials.

The 70-acre “shovel-ready” site being considered for a 100,000-square-foot building is privately owned and was one of the first submitted to the new Missouri Certified Sites program.

Regional Economic Development Inc. Executive Vice President Bernie Andrews said local and state officials will be working during the next few months with development company officials to arrange for tax breaks and other incentives to locate here.

The unnamed company from outside the region specializes in developing large data centers and forming partnerships with tenants. Andrews said the company has signed a letter of intent and wants to have 50 percent of the building space leased in advance.

“They like Columbia, they like the location and the site is checking out so far, Andrews said. The data center would need redundant sources of electricity, and the site is near a substation.

Chamber of Commerce Chairman Larry Moore wrote in a chamber newsletter that the data center complex could grow to about 700,000 square feet over time and when fully developed employ up to 250 high-wage workers.