Developers take ‘first step’ to bring $5.18 billion data center to Columbus

The process to bring a data center to Columbus has begun.

During the Development Authority of Columbus meeting Thursday, Choose Columbus president and CEO Missy Kendrick announced a new project to attract an artificial intelligence data center to Columbus. Kendrick said the Development Authority has partnered with Habitat Real Estate Partners, based in Brooks, Georgia, to secure a site.

“It is the first step in a long process of getting a data center here,” Kendrick said during the meeting.

Kendrick said a site has not been determined for the data center.

The project, named Project Ruby, has an estimated cost of $5.18 billion, spanning land acquisition, building construction and equipment installation between 2027 and 2030, according to the Choose Columbus news release. The proposed data center is expected to bring 195 new jobs to the Columbus community, with salary ranges between $80,000 and $120,000 a year.

The Development Authority is not offering any tax incentives to potential data center developers, Kendrick said.

“They will be paying 100% their way, as far as taxes are concerned,” she said.

Project Ruby is expected to generate $68.7 million in annual property tax revenue per year by 2030 before depreciation, according to the news release.

“This project represents one of the largest technology investments in our region’s history,” Selvin Hollingsworth, chairman of the Development Authority of Columbus, said in the news release. “Its economic and fiscal impacts will expand opportunity, enhance our tax base and position Columbus as a competitive hub for future data-driven industries.”

Economic development leaders were warned about community objections to the project, Kendrick said, and they should expect a high volume of phone calls.

Kendrick said public hearings with economic development officials, developers and utility providers will be conducted to discuss the project, but the dates have not been announced.

“It is absolutely OK for our community to do due diligence on the project,” she said. “That’s what we expect the planning and zoning board to do. It’s what we expect the city council to do. It’s what we will be doing. As we move forward, I’m still very excited about being able to bring a potential data center for Columbus, Georgia.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 10:22 AM.