Community Meeting on Data Centers
Public Invited to Hear from Prospective Developer, Georgia Power and University of Georgia About Potential Benefits and Concerns
TRENTON, GA — The Dade County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) will host a community informational meeting on Monday, November 23, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dade County Court Facility, located at 255 West Crabtree Street in Trenton, to discuss a company’s interest in developing a data center in one of Dade County’s industrial parks.
The meeting is open to the public, and all Dade County residents, business owners and community leaders are encouraged to attend.
The purpose of the meeting is to give citizens an opportunity to hear directly from the company considering the investment, learn more about the proposed development, and better understand both the potential economic benefits and the concerns associated with data centers.
Company, Georgia Power and University of Georgia to Participate
The meeting is expected to feature presentations from three groups:
- The prospective data center developer will explain the proposed project, including the potential investment, employment opportunities, water usage, cooling systems, electrical requirements and anticipated economic impact.
- Georgia Power will discuss the electrical infrastructure needed to serve a data center, including power capacity, transmission requirements and how projects of this size may affect the electrical system.
- The University of Georgia will provide an educational perspective on data center development, examining potential economic benefits as well as concerns involving infrastructure, water resources, land use and long-term community impacts.
Residents will also have an opportunity to ask questions and hear answers directly from the presenters.
IDA Encourages Open Discussion and Community Participation
The Industrial Development Authority recognizes that a development of this size raises important questions about the future of Dade County.
Those questions include how much water and electricity the facility would require, how many permanent jobs it would create, what infrastructure improvements might be necessary, and what the potential tax benefits would be for the county.
“Our job at the Industrial Development Authority is to explore opportunities that could benefit Dade County, but we also recognize the importance of making sure our citizens have accurate information about projects being considered for our community,” said Evan Stone, Executive Director of the Dade County Industrial Development Authority.
“We want residents to hear directly from the company, from Georgia Power and from the University of Georgia. We want people to understand the potential benefits, but we also want to openly discuss the concerns and challenges.”
Stone emphasized that the meeting is intended to provide information and encourage public participation.
“This meeting is not about asking people to support or oppose a data center. It’s about providing the facts, answering questions and giving our community an opportunity to be part of the conversation. We believe an informed community is essential to making good decisions about Dade County’s future.”
Community Meeting Details:
- Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Dade County Court Facility, 255 West Crabtree Street, Trenton, Georgia
- Hosted by: Dade County Industrial Development Authority (IDA)
- Admission: Free — Open to the Public
The Dade County Industrial Development Authority encourages everyone interested in the proposed development and its potential impact on the community to attend.