As the leader of Northwest Indiana’s building trades, I see the surge of data center development in our region, and across Indiana, not as a fleeting trend or a collection of shiny server racks, but as a generational opportunity. While the LOCATION of these campuses is important to us, the data center boom aligns perfectly with our mission: to secure long-term, reliable employment for our members and to strengthen the economic foundation of the communities we serve and live in.
Data centers are not small, routine builds. They are among the most complex and labor-intensive construction projects happening anywhere in the country today. For our trades, these projects represent demand on a scale we rarely see in traditional commercial construction. And the national numbers bear that out. Zenith Economics estimates more than $202 billion in U.S. data-center investment in 2025 alone, supporting 571,000 jobs, contributing $80.6 billion to GDP, and generating nearly $18 billion in tax revenues. That level of investment doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It drives local opportunity, and Northwest Indiana is already benefiting from it.
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The long-term value of data centers extends far beyond the construction phase. After a facility goes live, it continues to contribute to the regional economy for decades. These facilities generate ongoing tax revenues that support the public infrastructure we all depend on; our schools, roads, public safety services, and water and sewer systems. And when communities have strong tax bases and populations, the entire region benefits. The building trades understand this better than anyone: when public entities have the resources to invest in infrastructure, it creates better paying jobs for our local building trades members. It is of the utmost importance that there is transparency and a LOCAL workforce on these projects.
And here in Northwest Indiana, the momentum is real. We have already seen an anchor investment that proves our region is competitive in attracting this industry. From the Digital Crossroads data center in Hammond to the current proposed facilities in Hobart and south Lake County, these are not speculative projects, they are and are going to be concrete examples of what is possible when major tech companies choose Northwest Indiana. These facilities have already mobilized our local trades, apprentices and contractors, bringing millions of dollars of economic impact into our communities and we are excited for the opportunity to build more of these investments in our region with LOCAL contractors that employ a highly skilled union local workforce.
Data center construction also elevates our workforce. These projects require a highly skilled labor force: high-voltage electrical work, precision mechanical systems, advanced cooling and energy-management infrastructure, commissioning teams and systems-control experts. We’re talking about the cutting edge of construction. This work strengthens our training programs, deepens the skills of our journeymen, and opens doors for apprentices to gain experience in the fastest-growing segment of the construction industry. When our members build data centers, they walk away with expertise that makes them even more competitive for future high-tech infrastructure projects.
Instead of building another distribution warehouse or big-box facility, we are building the backbone of America’s digital economy. That is the definition of leveling up. If we step up, we can help shape data center projects in ways that maximize public value: good jobs, long-term tax revenue, infrastructure improvements, and economic development that lifts our entire region.
Northwest Indiana’s building trades have a real stake in the data center revolution. This is not just another tech trend; it is an economic infrastructure shift that will define the next several decades of growth in America. By engaging proactively, demanding strong community standards, and ensuring that skilled local workers are front and center, we can harness this boom to benefit our members, their families, and our communities for generations.
Rather than approach data centers with skepticism or fear, we should STOP spreading misinformation and recognize what they truly represent: a powerful investment in our future. They deserve our leadership, our voice and our craftsmanship and Northwest Indiana deserves the prosperity they can help deliver.
