French Developer DataOne Plans $7.5 Billion AI Factory Data Center in Frankfort, Indiana

DataOne, an international data center development company headquartered in France, announced plans Wednesday to build a large-scale "AI factory data center campus" on 115 acres of industrially zoned land on the western edge of Frankfort, Indiana, marking a significant pivot after the company's earlier proposal for a facility in Clinton County collapsed in January due to insufficient support from county commissioners.

The proposed campus, situated at the Logix Innovation Campus adjacent to the ConAgra site at 3500 West County Road 0 N/S, would encompass 800,000 square feet and carry an estimated construction cost of $7.5 billion. While the development is expected to generate substantial construction employment, DataOne said the facility would create approximately 200 permanent on-site positions once operational. "DataOne's goal is to hire from within Frankfort, connecting its investment to opportunities for the people who call the city home," the company said in its release, adding that the campus is located on land already zoned for industrial development and is expected to deliver a meaningful new contribution to the local tax base.

The project remains in the approval process with Frankfort city officials. Mayor Judy Sheets confirmed that the proposal will go before the city council on September 28, with plans to relocate the meeting to a larger venue to accommodate anticipated public attendance. Sheets noted that the city is still in negotiations with DataOne and that municipal requirements remain under discussion.

Charles-Antoine Beyney, CEO of DataOne, said the company chose Frankfort because its officials "believe in its people." He emphasized a commitment to community engagement, stating, "Our responsibility goes beyond building and operating a facility. We want to earn the community's trust, be a strong local partner and be a good neighbor. That means showing up, listening and communicating clearly and consistently."

According to a DataOne website dedicated to the Frankfort project, the company selected the city based on current zoning, proximity to the Frankfort Municipal Airport, and the site's location within an hour's drive of Purdue University. The facility will differ from a traditional data center in that an "AI factory" is a high-density installation specifically designed to train and run artificial intelligence models. "For the community, in practice, it is a secure, quiet, industrial building that hosts the technology behind tools people already use every day: navigation, weather forecasting, fraud protection, medical imaging and precision farming," the website states. The company explained that AI factories are purpose-built to unlock intensive computing power, utilizing specialized GPUs designed for parallel processing, advanced liquid cooling systems to manage higher energy density, ultra-fast networking enabling thousands of processors to collaborate seamlessly, and a hardware strategy that keeps pace with rapidly advancing technology.

On environmental and operational matters, DataOne said the campus would operate on a closed-loop water cooling system with a committed total daily water consumption of 22,000 gallons per day. The facility would be powered by a combination of on-site fuel cells and grid power delivered through the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, the city's existing electricity supplier. The company has committed to funding and building two new substations — one dedicated to the campus and a second to be transferred to the city of Frankfort — and will cover all upgraded electrical infrastructure costs associated with the project so that there will be no impact on Frankfort ratepayers. The dedicated substation ensures power will not be drawn from Frankfort's existing infrastructure, and residents' rates are not expected to be affected.

Addressing potential noise and light concerns, DataOne said it would design the campus with sound-attenuating equipment enclosures, acoustic barriers and ongoing sound monitoring, alongside "dark-sky, full-cutoff and motion-sensor lighting" to limit light spilling onto neighboring properties. "We believe sustainability should be measured by how a project operates and the value it brings to its neighbors," Beyney said. "For Frankfort, that means clear commitments on water and energy, thoughtful design to manage noise and light, local employment opportunities and a partnership that lasts."

Groundbreaking is expected later this year or in early 2027, contingent on the project's approval and continued momentum, with construction anticipated to last up to two years. DataOne plans to host two community open houses at 51 W. Clinton St. — on September 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. and September 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — to provide the public with more information about the development. Mayor Sheets said the city requested the open houses and encouraged residents to attend and ask questions of the development team. "I want to find out as much as I can about the data center, you know? What would happen if it came here, and how would it benefit us?" Sheets said. "That's what this is all about. We asked them to hold these meetings at different times to allow for more people to attend. I highly encourage our citizens to come to the events and find out exactly what's going on."