Study Overview
This comprehensive report, prepared for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation, evaluates the economic and fiscal impact of the data center industry on the state of Ohio. In less than a decade, Ohio has rapidly transformed into one of North America’s leading data center markets, attracting over $40 billion in private capital and earning the title “Silicon Heartland”.
The study confirms that the industry is firmly established as a powerful growth engine for Ohio and is on track to become a core pillar of the state’s economy. The report not only maps the sector’s substantial economic footprint but also sets out a roadmap for sustainable growth, emphasizing that future success requires proactive, integrated management of infrastructure, environment, and community trust.
About This Research
This economic impact analysis was conducted by SRC EvalMetrics LLC for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation. The study utilized the established IMPLAN Input-Output modeling methodology, which traces how spending in one sector creates ripple effects in jobs and economic activity across supplier industries and local communities.
The analysis integrates multiple data streams, including federal statistics, public records, commercial databases, and Ohio-specific inputs such as recent project announcements and state tax records. The study covers historical data from 2017 through 2024 and provides economic and fiscal projections through 2030. All economic impacts—including direct, indirect, and induced effects—are quantified and expressed in 2025 dollars.
Key Highlights
The data center industry has delivered substantial economic and fiscal returns to the state:
• Employment Growth: approximately 95,217 total jobs in 2024.
• Total Economic Value: $11.8 billion to Ohio’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024.
• Fiscal Return on Investment (ROI): net fiscal gain of $2.7 billion between 2017 and 2024.
• Capital Commitment: over $40 billion in committed private capital investment