A proposed multi-phase data center campus that could bring hundreds of high-paying jobs to Shelbyville is driving a request to annex and rezone more than 400 acres adjacent to Interstate 74, Prologis company officials confirmed to The Addison Times yesterday.
The project, under evaluation by Prologis, a global company with a market presence in Indianapolis, could include up to 13 buildings constructed over three phases, with preliminary estimates projecting approximately 6,750 construction jobs over the life of the buildout and about 450 permanent full-time positions once the campus is complete. The estimated average annual salary for those permanent jobs is approximately $100,000, according to project materials.
The Shelbyville Plan Commission on Wednesday will consider a recommendation to annex and rezone approximately 429 acres of land east of the State Road 44–Interstate 74 interchange. The parcels, currently zoned Agricultural or Single-Family Residential, would be annexed into city limits and rezoned General Industrial. The request will also receive a first reading Monday, Jan. 5, at the Shelbyville Common Council meeting.
Project materials describe a data center campus with Prologis serving as both developer and owner. No tenant has been identified, and company representatives emphasized the project remains in early planning stages.
The site was selected, company officials said, because it includes some land already designated for industrial use and is located near existing high-voltage transmission infrastructure. Initial construction would begin near the interstate on land already zoned industrial, with additional phases occurring over multiple years.
JC Witt, representing Prologis, said the company views the project as a long-term investment in Shelbyville and emphasized that required infrastructure upgrades would be privately funded.
“Prologis would cover 100% of the power-system upgrades needed to serve the site,” Witt said. “Those improvements could also strengthen the broader utility network.”
Water use for the campus, Witt noted, would be comparable to that of a typical office building. The facility would rely on a closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling system, in which water is initially filled and then reused continuously for a year or more before being replaced, rather than consumed on an ongoing basis.
“This project is still in the early stages,” Witt said, “but we see an opportunity to use existing industrial land and infrastructure to support Shelbyville’s future, including the digital infrastructure that communities and businesses increasingly rely on.”
According to application materials submitted to the city, annexation would allow the site to access municipal utilities and public infrastructure while supporting continued industrial development near the interstate interchange. Attorney Eric Glasco, writing on behalf of the annexation applicant, cited the site’s proximity to major transportation corridors and described the request as a step toward “promoting contiguous economic development and generating new employment opportunities while expanding the community’s tax base.”
Mayor Scott Furgeson said the proposal aligns with the city’s long-term development goals.
“Shelbyville is focused on growing in a way that makes sense for our community over the long term,” Furgeson said in a statement.
At least five letters of opposition and supplemental documents have been submitted by residents ahead of the Plan Commission meeting, citing concerns about removing land from agricultural use, energy consumption and other potential issues.
A Wall Street Journal article this week cited federal data showing recent electricity price increases nationwide have derived from a variety of factors, such as inflation, fuel costs, storm damage, grid modernization and state renewable-energy mandates, with impacts varying by region. In some areas, analysts note, the addition of large industrial customers has helped spread infrastructure costs across a broader base of users.
The current hearings are limited to annexation and zoning. If approved, the project would return later this year for site plan review and additional approvals. Company representatives said they plan to continue engaging with local officials and the community as details evolve.
The proposed site, which is located on the south side of State Road 44, is the same general area previously discussed for other industrial uses, including two large developments that did not move forward. City and county officials have described the data center proposal as a long-term investment with substantially larger projected economic impact.
Public comment will be accepted at both the Common Council and Plan Commission meetings. The Common Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, at City Hall, followed by the Plan Commission meeting on Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Shelbyville High School’s Breck Auditorium.