Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, research and daily life – powering everything from smart services to advanced analytics. Behind every AI application is a network of data centers, the infrastructure that enables high-speed computing and large-scale data processing.
Southeastern Wisconsin is emerging as a leader in this space, with a strategic location and skilled workforce that make the region ideal for data center development and AI computing. As new projects take shape, questions about their economic, environmental and community impacts are increasing. To provide clear, research-based answers, the Milwaukee 7 Partnership (M7) has launched a Data Center Resource Hub on its website.
The resource hub contains educational PDFs and videos outlining general information on each regional data center project, as well as the broader key economic benefits of data centers and how data center development relates to water and energy consumption.
“With interest in data center opportunities continuing to grow, and more questions emerging about those already operating in our region, understanding their accurate economic and community impacts is essential,” said M7 Executive Director Rebecca Gries. “Economic developers play a key role by asking the right questions and relying on research-based facts to clearly demonstrate that data centers provide real economic benefits to our communities, while ensuring these investments align with community and regional strategic priorities.”
In May 2024, Microsoft announced plans to invest $3.3 billion in a Mount Pleasant data center campus. The company committed an additional $4 billion investment in September 2025, funding the second phase of campus development.
In October 2025, Vantage Data Centers, in partnership with Oracle and OpenAI, announced plans for a $15 billion data center campus in Port Washington. Campus construction is expected to be completed by 2028.
Each data center campus will create new job opportunities, additional tax revenue and fund public services like schools and infrastructure.
Visit the resource hub to learn more: Data Center Resource Hub – Choose Milwaukee
