Franklin County took a major step forward this week in positioning itself for the next generation of economic development, as the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Diamond Farms data center project near Gray Summit.

The decision follows months of public engagement, technical review, and at times intense debate surrounding what is poised to become one of the largest private investments in county history.

The project site, located near Interstate 44, spans more than 600 acres of primarily agricultural land that has been under consideration for rezoning to support a hyperscale data center campus. The project, often referred to as the Gateway Digital Campus, is being advanced by a data center developer working with the property owners to transform the site into a long-term technology hub.

Planning and Zoning’s approval represents a key milestone in that process. While the project will still require review and final approval from the Franklin County Commission, the recommendation signals that local leaders see both the feasibility and the opportunity tied to the proposal.

That opportunity is significant. Hyperscaled data centers require substantial upfront capital investment, often reaching into the billions of dollars. To grasp that scale, consider that one million seconds is 14 and a half days, but one billion seconds is 37 years. These projects create long-term tax revenue streams that, based on similar Missouri projects, are projected to generate tens of millions annually in new revenue for schools, emergency services, and infrastructure.

For Franklin County, that kind of investment could be transformative. The county, part of the greater St. Louis region, has seen steady growth but remains rooted in a mix of manufacturing, agriculture, and small business. The addition of a major data center campus would diversify that economic base while positioning the county as a player in the rapidly expanding digital infrastructure sector.

The path to approval was not without friction. Public meetings drew hundreds of residents, with concerns ranging from water usage and environmental impacts to noise and changes in land use. In total, more than 170 individuals provided input during one of the commission’s extended hearings, underscoring the level of community interest and engagement.

Those concerns helped shape the process, with county officials and stakeholders working to evaluate impacts and consider potential safeguards as part of the rezoning discussion. At the same time, proponents argued that the project represents a rare chance to secure long-term economic growth without placing additional burden on existing residents.
Addressing specific community feedback, the Gateway Digital Campus website shares several key commitments. Regarding economic impact, the project guarantees “over 3,000 total jobs, including 2,000 in construction and 250 permanent high-paying positions”. They also offer a “Gateway Guarantee,” which promises “100% funding for infrastructure upgrades so that local residents’ electric bills do not increase”. In response to environmental concerns, developers note that their state-of-the-art cooling system is so efficient that at full build-out, “the site is expected to use less water than 54 average homes, avoiding heavy taxes on local aquifers”. This level of commitment is part of an ongoing effort to secure the economic benefits of the digital sector while preserving the rural character of Franklin County.
That balance between growth and preservation is increasingly common in communities across Missouri and the Midwest, where large-scale data center proposals are accelerating in response to demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services.
With Planning and Zoning’s approval now in place, the Diamond Farms project moves one step closer to reality. The final decision will rest with the county commission, but the trajectory is clear.
Franklin County is no longer just watching the digital economy expand elsewhere. It is actively competing to be part of it.