Economic benefits

Data centers bring significant economic benefits to Virginia, driven primarily by the industry’s large capital investments during construction. Most of this spending stays in the state, supporting Virginia-based contractors and suppliers.

While operational staffing is relatively lean — around 50 full-time workers per 250,000-square-foot facility — construction projects can employ up to 1,500 workers at their peak.

Statewide, the data center industry contributes an estimated 74,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in labor income, and $9.1 billion in GDP annually, with much of this impact stemming from the construction phase.

Beyond taxes, data centers also spur public and private investment in roads, broadband expansion, and grid upgrades, which benefit residents and businesses alike.

Many data center operators actively engage in philanthropy and community partnerships, supporting local nonprofits, workforce training programs, and STEM education initiatives. During the last couple of years, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, which has a large data center in eastern Henrico County, has donated more than $4 million to community nonprofit organizations, schools, and educational programs across the Richmond region.