Rural Community Action Assembly: Planning for Data Center Development

Data centers are expanding into rural America. At a May 11, 2026 event hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, expert practitioners and researchers explored data center expansion in rural communities, including topics such as:

• potential economic costs and benefits of data center development;
• workforce opportunities and skilled labor considerations;
• regional competitiveness and community preparation strategies; and
• real-world perspectives from communities experiencing this trend.

[May 11, 2026]