MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Dallas-based Compass Datacenters, a multinational developer of data center facilities, has announced plans to construct its next hyperscale data center campus in Meridian. The massive project, which will unfold over an eight-year period, will include eight state-of-the-art data centers.
Once fully operational, the campus will represent a total investment of $10 billion, including the information technology equipment of future tenants. The development is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region, contributing to both the local and state economies.
Compass Datacenters specializes in building single-tenant, hyperscale data center campuses designed for longevity and scalability. These large-scale facilities are built to last for more than 100 years, supporting local businesses and providing jobs.
“The $10 billion megadeal is huge for Lauderdale County and the entire state as we continue an impressive economic development streak that is unprecedented in Mississippi,” said Gov. Tate Reeves. “Through our pro-business policies and favorable business environment, we continue to establish our state as an ideal location for high-tech developments by providing the resources needed for innovation and growth. I thank the Compass Datacenters team for its well-placed confidence in our people and in our business climate, which will provide ample opportunities for the company and the residents of Meridian and Lauderdale County now and for generations to come.”
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance for the site’s preparation, and will also certify Compass Datacenters as a data center operator. This certification qualifies the company for a range of tax incentives, including 10-year state income and franchise tax exemptions, as well as a sales and use tax exemption on construction materials and certain equipment.
The city of Meridian, Lauderdale County, and Mississippi Power Company are also supporting the project. Mississippi Power will provide approximately 500 megawatts of power to the new data center campus.
“Compass Datacenters’ multi-billion investment in Meridian marks yet another monumental economic development win for Mississippi, and it is the result of many factors that position our state as a hub for these high-tech projects,” said Bill Cork, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority. “Speed to market, the availability of a shovel-ready site in Meridian I-20/59 Industrial Park, and the capabilities of Mississippi Power were key to Compass Datacenters choosing Lauderdale County. The economic development team in Mississippi is second to none, and we are excited to continue bringing great job opportunities to the citizens of our great state.”
Data centers, which house and power large arrays of computer servers, are becoming an increasingly important part of modern infrastructure. These facilities enable a wide array of online services such as business applications, digital file storage, e-commerce, entertainment streaming, and email services.
“We are looking forward to building our next campus in Meridian,” said AJ Byers, President and Chief Development Officer of Compass Datacenters. “We appreciate the time and effort Mississippi Development Authority, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, and Mississippi Power have invested with us to bring this project to fruition and look forward to bringing good-paying jobs and economic benefits to the region for decades to come.”
Local officials also expressed their enthusiasm for the project, which is expected to significantly boost the local economy.
“Since meeting the Compass Datacenter folks in February 2024, it has been one exciting experience,” said Bill Hannah, President of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. “First, we need to thank Mississippi Power for bringing Compass to us. Mississippi Power’s investment in a substation for the I-20/59 Industrial Park, along with Lauderdale County’s ability to work with the Mississippi Legislature for a $4 million site grant, an additional MDA site grant, and the city of Meridian’s water/sewer investment years ago, truly made this site a speed to market option for Compass. Thank you Compass Datacenters for selecting Meridian, Lauderdale County for your Mississippi campus.”
Mississippi Power, which has supported the project through the construction of key infrastructure, also expressed its pride in contributing to the economic development effort.
“Mississippi Power has been an integral part of the economic development effort to bring more jobs and industries to our state for nearly a century,” said Anthony Wilson, President and CEO of Mississippi Power. “Mississippi Power has the generating power to support a growing Mississippi while maintaining reliable service for our customers. Our company is proud to be a part of the strategic team that delivered this significant investment to East Mississippi.”
Compass Datacenters plans to break ground in the coming months, with the first data center expected to be completed by 2026. Once fully operational, the site will become one of the largest data center campuses in the Southeast, playing a key role in the region’s growing technology sector.
To learn more about Compass Datacenters, visit compassdatacenters.com.
