Resolution puts West Memphis in hunt for $3B data center

Potential deal could add 300 jobs to local community

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

The City of West Memphis is taking steps in its attempt to secure a major economic development opportunity. City leaders hope a recent move is in the right direction to aid in the potential arrival of a $3 billion data center, a venture that could ultimately create approximately 300 jobs in the area.

In a recent city council meeting on July 11, Ward Wimbish, former general manager at West Memphis Utilities, revealed that the proposed data center would be constructed behind the Coca-Cola Company at the intersection of Rainer and Bollinger Roads. The project, spearheaded by an undisclosed company known only as Spark Innovations LLC – a shell company registered in Delaware – is expected to require a massive amount of electricity.

To meet the power demands of the data center, Entergy Arkansas has been approached to supply around 10 megawatts of electricity. Additionally, the facility will rely heavily on reprocessed wastewater from the local sewage treatment plant for its water needs.

Despite the nondisclosure agreement (NDA) preventing the city from revealing the identity of the company, West Memphis officials are optimistic about their chances of securing this lucrative development deal. Nick Coulter, the communications director for West Memphis, emphasized that while discussions are still in the early stages, the city has taken a positive step forward by passing a resolution expressing interest in the project.

When asked what the salary range would be by city councilwoman Lorraine Mohammed, Wimbish said he expected them to be “higher than average.”

It is worth noting that this potential data center project comes hot on the heels of xAI’s announcement of a new supercomputer facility in nearby Memphis, Tennessee. With these two significant investments in data center infrastructure, the greater Memphis area is poised to become a potential hub for technological innovation and economic growth.