Aug. 19, 2025 – AVAIO Digital, a Connecticut-based developer of sustainable data centers, announced plans Monday for a $6 billion data center campus in Rankin County, marking the third-largest economic development project in Mississippi history.
The massive project, known as AVAIO Digital Taurus, will be built at the East Metropolitan Center Business and Industrial Park in Brandon. Company officials say the development will create at least 60 direct, high-tech jobs, along with hundreds of indirect jobs in construction and related industries.
Gov. Tate Reeves hailed the announcement as a milestone for Mississippi’s growing technology sector.
“AVAIO Digital’s $6 billion investment is the third largest in our state’s history and a great vote of confidence in our people, our communities and our ability to get companies up and running faster,” Reeves said. “This project will not only transform Rankin County and the Metro Jackson region, it will transform our economic landscape and lead to even more high-tech leaders choosing Mississippi.”
High-tech, sustainable design
The campus will feature high-speed, low-latency connectivity with direct links to major data center hubs in Dallas and Atlanta. Sustainable design plans include water-efficient cooling, rainwater recapture, rooftop solar panels and power-saving cooling system economization.
Once fully operational, the facility will house cutting-edge server, networking and data storage technologies to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Entergy Mississippi will provide reliable power for the development.
Construction is expected to be complete by the first half of 2027.
Economic development partnerships
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has approved AVAIO Digital Taurus for the state’s Data Center Enterprises tax exemption. The site also received earlier assistance through MDA’s Site Development Grant Program. Rankin County and the city of Brandon partnered with the company to secure the project.
MDA Executive Director Bill Cork said the announcement reflects the state’s strategy to attract major technology investments.
“Securing a multi-billion-dollar investment like AVAIO Digital’s doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of Mississippi’s laser-focused strategy to attract world-class companies through our strong economic development resources,” Cork said.
Mark McComiskey, CEO of AVAIO Digital, said Brandon offers unique advantages for digital infrastructure growth.
“The Greater Jackson area is poised to become a new hub for cloud computing and AI development,” McComiskey said. “Mississippi provides a unique opportunity for hyperscalers to rapidly expand their digital presence in close proximity to established data center markets in a highly sustainable way.”
Local leaders in Brandon and Rankin County called the project “transformative” for the region, praising its potential to attract and retain top talent, strengthen the tax base and position central Mississippi as a leader in digital infrastructure.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
