Data center developer QTS has announced plans for a proposed $10 billion data center campus project in the City of Van Wert, Ohio.

City leaders have long been searching for a partner to develop a 1,500-acre “mega site,” owned by local non-profit the Marsh Foundation, between Highway 30, Gilliland Road, and Marsh Road in Van Wert County.

According to QTS, its project will bring $10 billion in capital investment, $200 million in projected tax revenue over the next 20 years, and create 200 full-time QTS positions, as well as 1,500 construction jobs in partnership with local building trade unions.

Up to seven buildings are planned across 902 acres, according to the company. Further details haven’t been shared

As part of the development, QTS said it would establish a community betterment fund for Van Wert, dedicated to education, workforce development, public safety, and community amenity projects.

The developer also said it would support local non-profit organizations and first responders, as well as invest $100,000 in a local technical school, Vantage Career Center, to support local technical training opportunities, with the intention to form a long-term partnership.

QTS has said it will use a closed-loop cooling system for the development, which will “not consume water for cooling once it is operational.” According to QTS, this will reduce water consumption in the local area.

However, per the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, while “zero water” closed-loop water recycling designs do lower local water consumption, many of these designs demand more electricity, which can increase indirect water consumption through energy demand generation.

QTS said that energy and sustainability were “central” to its approach, and the company will fund 100 percent of all necessary energy infrastructure improvements to support the campus, at no cost to existing energy users.

“All improvements will be designed to support the project and modernize the grid to help enable reliable service for existing customers. QTS is partnering with American Electric Power to ensure long-term, reliable energy for residents and businesses across the community,” the company said in a statement.

QTS and city officials said they were committed to open, ongoing communication with residents and will coordinate with community leaders for public engagement. A community event for questions will take place on June 11, 2026, from 5pm to 6:30pm EDT at the Vantage Career Center in Ohio.

QTS has also launched a dedicated project page offering further details on the project and allowing residents to submit questions.

“We’ve been waiting nearly twenty years to get an end-user into the mega site,” said Van Wert Mayor Kenneth J. Markward. “It’s a pleasure to welcome QTS into the community.  In addition to the construction phase, this project brings good-paying jobs that will strengthen our tax base, allowing us to focus on other things that will benefit the residents of the city.”

“This is a long-term investment in Van Wert,” said Tag Greason and David Robey, co-CEOs of QTS. “Our goal is to be a responsible neighbor, one that listens, invests in local priorities, and supports sustainable growth for families and businesses across the community. We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with Van Wert for decades to come.”

QTS was founded in 2003 and has been owned by asset management firm Blackstone since 2021. QTS has dozens of data centers in operation and development across the US, UK, Netherlands, and Spain. It has an existing footprint in Ohio around the New Albany area of Columbus.

Real estate firm Thor Equities had previously announced the acquisition of 221 acres on the Van Wert site to build a 500MW data center campus.