Across many rural regions, data center development has become an emerging source of economic activity. For communities facing declining traditional industries or limited tax bases, these facilities represent potential for new revenue streams, infrastructure investments, and economic diversification.
Data centers can diversify rural economies by bringing new jobs and attracting new investments to a region. These facilities can serve as catalysts for comprehensive infrastructure modernization, including broadband expansion that connects rural residents to the digital economy and electrical grid upgrades that enhance reliability and capacity for entire communities.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development hosted a Rural Economic Development Summit that explored the economic impacts of data center development in rural communities, examining workforce and economic development considerations and infrastructure needs.
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