(This article was revised to add a photo and correct the name of an operator of a West Lakeland data center in another photo caption.)
The rapidly increasing use of AI technology has led to a surge in companies seeking to build data centers in Polk County.
Over the past year, local officials have grappled with how to respond to numerous requests to build hyperscale data centers across the county. They have received requests for zoning changes and tax breaks, while many residents have vocally opposed data center construction over concerns about electrical prices, heavy water use leading to shortages and environmental pollution.
Fort Meade was among the first to face the issue, approving a zoning change request in June 2025 on 1,164 acres to allow for a potential 4.4 million-square-foot data center.
Haines City and now Lakeland are facing requests from developers to build data centers.
Intense public outcry has caused Lakeland officials to consider slapping a one-year moratorium on the construction of hyperscale data centers, or any other large industrial businesses, while it examine the issues raised.
Here’s a look at what data centers exist in Polk County, what’s proposed and some of the issues that have been raised so far.
Does Polk County have data centers now?
There are at least three data centers operating in Polk County, located in Lakeland and Winter Haven.
Cologix, located at 2850 Interstate Drive in Lakeland, is a data center measuring about 105,000 square feet.
Brian Rewis, Lakeland’s director of community and economic development, said the building was originally constructed as a warehouse and part of it was retroactively turned into a data center.
In addition to Cologix, Massachusetts-based Thrive Networks Inc. owns two data centers in Polk — one in Lakeland, the other in Winter Haven.
Thrive acquired Lakeland-based information technology firm DSM Technology Consultants LLC in July 2022. DSM was the original operator to build and construct the two data centers.
The Lakeland location, at 6810 New Tampa Highway, is about 25,000 square feet, according to information on Datacenters.com, a website that helps provide colocation services for technology firms.
In Winter Haven, Thrive oversees a data center at 200 Ave. B NW that’s approximately 33,000 square feet, according to Datacetners.com. Thrive advertises the data center on its website as available for cloud services.
Fort Meade is the biggest of Polk’s data center proposals so far
Developers have come forward to pitch at least three data centers in Polk County over the past year. Each project stands at a different stage.
Fort Meade commissioners approved a change of zoning on 1,164 acres on June 10, 2025, that would allow a proposed data center to move forward.
Polk County commissioners approved a roughly $140 million tax break for the proposed Fort Meade data center in November.
On April 14, Fort Meade commissioners unanimously approved a development agreement with Stonebridge, operating as Fort Meade LLC.
Stonebridge plans to construct a 4.4 million-square-foot, hyperscale data center on 1,300 acres in northern Fort Meade. The data center would have eight large buildings constructed around a center hub on former phosphate mine land west of U.S. 17-98.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly called Swiftmud, warned the city that Stonebridge would need to obtain its own permit for the requested 50,000 gallons of potable water a day.
Five Fort Meade residents filed a lawsuit on May 14 in Polk County seeking to have a higher court review and terminate the development agreement.
Haines City doesn’t have enough water
Haines City staff were approached by data center development company Cielo Digital Infrastructure about potentially building a facility on 74 acres along State Road 544-E/Marion Road in November.
On Nov. 4, city staff met with the developer to discuss what was being proposed and the facility’s estimated potable water and sewer service needs.
James Keene, Haines City’s deputy city manager, sent a letter to the developer stating the city did not have sufficient water available for the potential data center’s estimated 150,000 gallons per day.
The city has a pending water-use modification request with Swiftmud to increase the city’s ability to pump water from 5.9 million to16.42 million gallons per day.
If approved, it would provide Haines City with the potable water needed to continue possible discussions with the data center developer.
Lakeland’s data center debate
On May 5, Lakeland received a conceptual site plan from Lakeland-based engineering firm Kimley-Horn to build a roughly 600,000-square-foot data center off Old Tampa Highway near Wilkinson Road. The facility would be constructed by Ryan Companies U.S. Inc.
Kimley-Horn’s application did not give any indication what the data center’s electrical demand or anticipated water usage would be, as city staff on the Development Review Committee noted.
It did propose building a 3-acre electrical substation on the northeast corner of the property.
Lakeland city staff gave a detailed 13-page review of the proposed project, after which a meeting between the developer and city staff was canceled.
As of June 23, no formal application to develop the property had been filed through Lakeland’s IMS portal.
Lakeland Commissioner Guy LaLonde has led an effort to have the city implement a one-year moratorium on development of any new large-scale industrial businesses, including data centers. Public hearings are scheduled for 9 a.m. July 6 and 20 at City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Ave. in Lakeland.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Does Polk County already have data centers running? What to know
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
