Rome, Georgia, is set to become home to a third data center development. An unnamed developer, who already owns land in the city, has been granted the option to acquire 15 additional acres located along Highway 53. This new land acquisition would facilitate a significant expansion of the developer’s existing project in the region.
Project Sassy: A New Addition to Georgia’s Data Center Landscape
The upcoming data center project, currently referred to as Project Sassy, will be situated across from a Lowe’s distribution center. While details on the project’s specifications remain sparse, the developer has secured an option agreement with the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority (RFCDA) to purchase the additional 15 acres within an 18-month window. The land is priced at $60,000 per acre.
Missy Kendrick, President of the RFCDA, shared with Northwest Georgia News that the project’s developers already own adjacent land and are keen to expand their operations further. The land in question is part of a larger tract, which includes property owned by Lowe’s and managed by both the RFCDA and the Development Authority of Floyd County (DAFC).
Location: Strategic for Data Center Operations
The new data center site is conveniently located along Georgia Highway 53, offering proximity to key infrastructure. The area is part of the broader economic development zone in Floyd County, which has become a hotspot for data center growth. The location’s close proximity to Rome and about 70 miles from Atlanta, Georgia’s established data center hub, makes it an attractive option for companies in the tech and cloud computing sectors.
Previous Data Center Projects in Rome, Georgia
The announcement of Project Sassy marks the third major data center initiative in Floyd County. In October 2023, Microsoft made headlines with the purchase of 347 acres of land outside Rome for a $1 billion data center project. This move is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to expand its infrastructure in the southeastern U.S.
Additionally, just last month, another 114-acre development was announced near Coosa High School, a few miles away from the Microsoft site. While specifics about this second project remain under wraps, it indicates the growing trend of data center investments in the region.
Key Takeaways from the Rome Data Center Expansion
- Increased Investment: The $1 billion investment by Microsoft and the other developments highlight the area’s increasing importance in the data center sector.
- Economic Growth: As the third data center project in Rome, Project Sassy contributes to the region’s burgeoning role in the tech industry, offering potential job opportunities and infrastructure improvements.
- Strategic Location: The site’s proximity to key transportation routes and major markets like Atlanta enhances its appeal for large-scale data center operations.
FAQ: Key Questions About the New Data Center in Rome, Georgia
What is Project Sassy in Rome, Georgia? Project Sassy is the name given to a new data center development planned in Rome, Georgia. The project involves the acquisition of an additional 15 acres of land along Highway 53 to expand the developer’s existing landholdings in the area.
Who is behind the Project Sassy development? The developer behind Project Sassy remains unnamed, and no further details have been disclosed. However, the developer already owns adjacent land and is working with the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority to secure the site.
Why is Rome, Georgia becoming a data center hub? Rome’s strategic location near Atlanta and its availability of large, undeveloped tracts of land make it an attractive site for data center development. The region is also supported by the necessary infrastructure, including power, cooling, and fiber networks.
How much land is being purchased for the new data center project? The developer has secured an option to purchase 15 additional acres of land along Highway 53 for the Project Sassy data center development.
What other data center projects are happening in Rome, Georgia? In addition to Project Sassy, Microsoft is building a massive data center on 347 acres near Huffaker Road, and another data center project is planned on 114 acres near Coosa High School. These investments are contributing to the growth of the region’s tech infrastructure.
