A proposed $2.9 billion data-center campus could transform southeast Canton into a major hub for cloud computing and artificial-intelligence infrastructure, while raising questions about electricity, water, noise, traffic, property values and permanent employment.
Texas-based developer Corscale is proposing the Midwest Digital Gateway, a hyperscale data-center campus on roughly 162 acres near Millerton Street SE and Central Avenue SE. The facility is planned for 312 megawatts of power capacity and could be developed for Amazon Web Services, although no final tenant agreement has been publicly confirmed.
If approved, the project would rank among the largest private developments proposed in the Canton area, bringing potential investment, construction activity and additional tax revenue. Its scale, however, means the project will require substantial supporting infrastructure, including high-voltage connections, substations, cooling systems, backup power and fiber-optic networks.
What Is Planned?
The Midwest Digital Gateway is expected to support cloud computing, data storage, artificial intelligence and other digital services. The site was previously associated with Canton Township before about 163.5 acres were annexed into the city, bringing the proposal under Canton’s zoning and development-review process.
The final design has not been fully disclosed, and it remains unclear whether construction would occur in one phase or several.
Amazon Connection Remains Unconfirmed
Amazon Web Services has been identified as the likely customer connected to the proposal. A major cloud provider would help explain the campus’s scale and power requirements, but available public information does not confirm that Amazon has signed a final lease or formally committed to operate the facility.
For now, Amazon is best described as a likely or prospective tenant rather than a confirmed operator.
Power Demand Is a Central Issue
A 312-megawatt data center would require highly reliable electricity because servers and cooling systems operate continuously. The project could require new substations, transmission upgrades and other utility improvements.
The 312-megawatt figure represents planned capacity, not necessarily constant electricity consumption. Actual demand would depend on the number of buildings constructed, the equipment installed and the eventual computing workload.
Residents and regulators will also want clarity on who would pay for required utility infrastructure and whether any costs could affect electricity customers.
Water, Noise and Other Concerns
Data centers generate substantial heat, making cooling systems essential. Water requirements vary depending on the technology used, but Corscale’s detailed water-use plans for the Canton project have not been fully disclosed.
Residents and community groups have also raised concerns about noise from cooling systems and generators, construction traffic, large industrial buildings, potential effects on nearby property values, stormwater runoff and air emissions from backup generators.
Another key issue is employment. Construction could generate work for contractors, engineers, electricians, suppliers and other businesses, but the number of permanent positions is not yet confirmed. Data centers typically require specialized operations staff but can employ fewer permanent workers than factories receiving comparable investment.
Canton Has Adopted New Rules
Canton approved new zoning regulations for data centers in July following public debate over their location and operation. The rules address major components including principal buildings, cooling equipment, electrical substations, generators and battery-storage systems, while establishing setbacks from sensitive properties and public rights-of-way.
The regulations are expected to shape the Midwest Digital Gateway’s final site plan. City officials will need to determine whether the proposal meets the standards and whether additional conditions are required.
What Happens Next?
The project remains in development and must move through Canton’s planning, zoning and development-review processes. Detailed site plans, utility information, engineering studies and opportunities for public comment are expected to form part of that process.
Several major details remain unresolved, including the construction schedule, phasing, final building count and size, confirmed tenant, water demand, required road and utility improvements, job numbers, possible tax incentives and final noise, air-quality and stormwater controls.
Until those details are submitted and reviewed, the $2.9 billion figure should be understood as a proposed investment rather than money already committed to construction.
The Midwest Digital Gateway could make Canton a larger destination for digital infrastructure, but the project’s final scope and community impact will depend on the details that emerge during the review process.
The proposed Midwest Digital Gateway comes as demand for large-scale AI and cloud infrastructure continues to drive data-center development across the country. A similar push is taking shape in Texas, where a $430 million data center is planned for Fort Worth’s Alliance corridor, a project that is also drawing community attention over its potential impact on the surrounding area. Together, the developments reflect the growing scale of data-center investment—and the increasing scrutiny that comes with it.
Factsheet: Midwest Digital Gateway
- Developer: Corscale
- Location: Southeast Canton, near Millerton Street SE and Central Avenue SE
- Investment: $2.9 billion proposed
- Power capacity: 312 MW
- Land: About 162 acres
- Likely tenant: Amazon Web Services, unconfirmed
- Facility: Hyperscale data-center campus
- Status: Proposed; subject to planning, zoning, utility and development approvals
- Construction/completion: Not announced
- Jobs: Not confirmed
- Key issues: Power, water, noise, traffic, infrastructure, property values and employment
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