Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The St. Louis region is embracing digital infrastructure to compete in the 21st century. Data centers are critical to this transformation, and the region is positioning itself to support the growth of artificial intelligence and advanced computing. While some cities are pumping the brakes on data center development, St. Louis is moving forward with a clear understanding of the need for enormous computing capacity. The region already possesses assets digital infrastructure companies are seeking, including a central geographic location, a highly trained workforce, and strong logistics networks.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
St. Louis is betting big on digital infrastructure, with a $3 billion Armory project expected to generate $432 million in tax revenue and create over 1,050 construction jobs. The region is also home to the $1.7 billion NGA West campus, which employs a workforce of roughly 3,150 built around geospatial intelligence. Google and Amazon have announced major data center investments in Missouri, with commitments to train thousands of construction workers and pay for new infrastructure. The momentum—and job creation that follows it—spans across Missouri.
The region is choosing to compete for digital infrastructure with clear eyes about the questions that remain, including concerns about water and energy use. The city has developed a regulatory framework to address these concerns, and the Board of Aldermen is working through amendments to ensure responsible growth.
This is about more and better jobs for the people who call our region home.
The future economy will require enormous computing capacity, and regions unwilling to embrace digital infrastructure are likely to fall behind.
St. Louis is not just building data centers; it’s building a future.
Author: Evan Null
