The Hancock Innovation Center is a proposed new advanced computing campus in Hancock County.
It would not use any tax cuts, property tax abatements or any other development incentives. Instead, it would pay taxes like any other business and generate an estimated $300-400 million in new tax revenue, including an estimated $210-240 million for Van Buren schools.
It would create 750-1,000 jobs during construction and 50-100 jobs when completed, many at six-figure salaries.
In short, it will be different, responsible, community-minded and better than many other data center facilities people keep hearing and reading about.
OnSite Partners develops, owns and operates energy infrastructure for businesses across the United States, including onsite or “behind the meter” power generation that allows large commercial buildings to have their own dedicated power supply instead of pulling it from the local electric grid. It is based in Columbus and has offices in Findlay and Chicago. Learn more at www.onsitepartners.com.
A final site has not been made public at this time, but we will continue to be transparent with local leaders to identify the best design characteristics to minimize impacts on neighboring properties and residents.
While certain details remain sensitive for competitive reasons, the Hancock Innovation Center is expected to be a mid-sized facility designed to fit in with the character and needs of the surrounding community.
No. The Hancock Innovation Center will use a closed-loop cooling system, significantly reducing water consumption and avoiding an impact on local water tables or supplies. It is expected to use less water than a handful of average coffee shops.
The Hancock Innovation Center combines both a grid connection as well as onsite generation dedicated to serve the facility. This combination allows the project to generate significant benefits for the community while minimizing the impact on the grid. As part of the project, we’re also exploring battery energy storage to further minimize the impact on the grid. Data centers deployed in the 13-state wholesale power market that serves Ohio do not impact energy costs regardless of where they are located within the region. There is no difference in the cost of energy locally, however local developments bring significant financial benefits to the communities that support these facilities.
No. Though the project would be eligible for potentially millions of dollars in tax breaks, it is not going to accept them. The project will pay its full share of local taxes and is projected to generate $300 million to $400 million in benefits for schools, local governments, and the broader community, including an estimated $210-240 million to Van Buren Schools.
They will be onsite for emergencies only but they will not be a primary source of power. In fact, current plans call for the generators to be out of sight and shielded by noise-suppression barriers.
No. The Hancock Innovation Center plans on using state-of-the-art LED lighting that does not create ambient light into the night sky. Additionally, the facility will be surrounded by a large berm and trees to minimize the impact on the surrounding residents.
The Hancock Innovation Center is projected to create 750-1,000 jobs during construction and 50-100 permanent jobs when completed. The projected salaries for many of these permanent positions will be six figures.
The Hancock Innovation Center will be providing $250,000 in scholarships to local schools. Additionally, the center will be offering STEM programming partnerships, internships, and tours to area students. Hopefully many students will be interested in working there. There’s no reason our students need to leave the area to have high-paying technology jobs right at home.
No. OnSite Partners will pay to build the infrastructure required as part of the project. Our commitment to the community is that we will bear the cost associated with any infrastructure needed to support the Hancock Innovation Center.
The project will be designed so it will be virtually unseen. Setbacks, berms, trees, landscaping, building orientation, equipment screening and other custom-designed strategies will all be used to reduce its visual impact.
Hopefully residents will judge the Hancock Innovation Center by the facts and independently from other projects they have heard about. It will be different, responsible and better. OnSite Partners’ approach is to put the major community questions on the table early: water, power, taxes, noise, land use, jobs, and local benefits, and update the public as the project moves forward. Additionally, you will see our leaders in the community. OnSite Partners has hired a Senior Director of Community Engagement to be a liaison between residents and leaders.