Common Questions About the Florence Technology Park

Every time you use your phone, check your bank account, stream a movie, make a 911 call, or access school records, that information travels through a data center. Hospitals store patient records in them. Schools run their digital systems through them. Businesses, government agencies, and emergency services all depend on them every day. Data centers are the physical infrastructure behind the internet — and as that need grows, communities that can host them responsibly have an opportunity to attract significant long-term investment.

Data centers require very specific conditions: reliable power at scale, high-speed fiber connectivity, available land, a stable business environment, and a community willing to partner on responsible development. Lauderdale County checks all of those boxes. The region's power infrastructure, access to major fiber corridors, and available industrial land make it one of the more viable locations in the Southeast for this type of facility. The goal is to bring that investment — and the jobs and tax revenue that come with it — to Florence rather than somewhere else.

Lauderdale County offers the power infrastructure, land availability, and fiber connectivity that modern data centers require — along with a strong local workforce and a business-friendly environment.

Construction traffic will be managed through a dedicated access plan coordinated with county transportation. Once operational, the facility generates minimal daily traffic.

No. The Florence Technology Park is a private commercial facility with its own direct power agreement with the regional utility. Your residential or business electricity rates are set by your utility provider — this project does not change them.

Noise reduction is a core design priority. Our facility is not a factory or manufacturing plant, and we are committed to minimizing noise impact on neighboring properties. We are completing a formal noise analysis as part of the environmental review, and will share those findings publicly.

The cooling system is entirely self-contained — a closed loop where the same water recirculates continuously without being discharged into local waterways or drawn from the community supply. Total facility water consumption from employee restroom and kitchen use is equivalent to approximately 5–7 homes. The facility will utilize on-site wells and grey water for landscape irrigation.

Construction and commissioning timelines are being finalized. Community updates will be posted here as milestones are confirmed.

A significant portion of the annual property tax revenue generated by the facility flows directly to the Lauderdale County school district — supplementing budgets for teachers, facilities, and programs.

The Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) is a formal commitment between the project and the community. Rather than deciding from a corporate office where investments should go, we believe those decisions should be made by the people who know Florence best — through the Community Advisory Task Force.