WASHINGTON — CNN published an article on Tuesday revealing that data centers have transformed Quincy, Washington, by creating jobs, strengthening the economy, and improving the community.
In the small rural farming town of Quincy, Washington, locals are enjoying benefits such as “a $120 million state-of-the-art high school. Hospital. Public library. Police and fire stations. Paved sidewalks, sewage systems and wastewater treatment plant.” Other improvements include a “$15 million aquatic center with a six-lane pool, waterslides and a lazy river” and next year “the opening of the Q-Plex, a 143,000-square-foot indoor sports complex.” These investments are made possible by the “roughly 30 data centers [shouldering] an estimated 57% of Quincy’s property taxes, funding the city’s public building spree.”
In addition to the numerous community improvements, small businesses across Quincy applaud the data centers in their town, sharing that they have created a new stream of customers. Tina Stetner, owner of Quincy Hardware & Lumber, praised data centers: “Our city is thriving on the backs of these data centers.”
Data centers in Quincy have clearly fueled significant economic growth. CNN’s article noted that the impact “created around 900 jobs for engineers, pipefitters and electricians in the town…the poverty rate has fallen from 29.4% in 2012 to 6.2% in 2024.” Pat Haley, a former city administrator, calls data centers the “Quincy miracle.”