Hutto City Council Greenlights $500 Million Data Center Project to Boost Local Tech Economy

Hutto Approves Exciting $500 Million Data Center Project!

Hutto, Texas is buzzing with exciting news as the Hutto City Council has given the green light for a massive 180,000-square-foot data center to be built in the area. The project, known as Project Raptor, aims to enhance the tech landscape and bring new opportunities to this growing city located about 30 miles northeast of Austin.

Colovore to Lead the Charge

The data center will be operated by Colovore, a Silicon Valley-based company that specializes in providing liquid-cooled, high-density solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing. With an estimated investment of $500 million, this project is expected to create between 15 and 30 jobs for residents in the area.

City officials approved the specific use permit on December 5, allowing Colovore to move forward with plans for a 13,000-square-foot flex office space as part of the development. The site, located at 2351 Innovation Blvd., sits at a prime intersection of State Highway 130 and West U.S. 79, making it accessible and strategically placed to support future growth.

A Vision of Sustainability

During the city council meeting, Amanda Brown, who represented Colovore, mentioned that specific details about the facility are still being drafted. However, she emphasized the company’s commitment to low environmental impacts, which will utilize advanced liquid cooling and closed-loop water systems. This will help lessen the facility’s strain on local resources, a point that Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder highlighted during the discussion.

Mayor Snyder, a resident of the area, pointed out the challenges of truck traffic in the burgeoning region but expressed optimism about the low-employee count facility being a valuable addition. “I think this is a great place to have a low-employee count, high-value item that will be built and look good and provide tax revenue that won’t have the impacts that a lot of industrial uses tend to have,” he stated.

Growing Tech Hub

The Ironwood Tract, which was annexed by Hutto in 2022, is part of a larger industrial park project developed through a joint venture of Dallas-based Velocis, Ironwood Realty Partners, and California-based MBK Industrial Properties. The park is set to be an exciting development, consisting of over 1 million square feet of industrial space, with ongoing construction for its first phase already kicking off earlier this year.

As it stands, Hutto’s population is about 39,000 residents, and Project Raptor will mark the first known tenant to this expansive tract. Many are eager to see how this will spur further development in Hutto and the surrounding regions, which are rapidly becoming a tech hub, with other data centers popping up in nearby cities like Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Georgetown.

What to Expect

With industries like Samsung Electronics and Tesla setting up shop nearby, the demand for industrial facilities has skyrocketed. A new data center in Hutto emphasizes the area’s evolution into a major player in the tech landscape. Yet, there are mixed feelings stemming from the rapid growth of such facilities, often criticized for their significant resource consumption.

Colovore has been pushing for expansion after being acquired by a global investment firm earlier this year. Their move into the Hutto area is part of a broader strategy to provide more cost-efficient data center solutions for high-demand customers. This aligns with Hutto’s vision for development and growth, ensuring the balance of opportunity and sustainability.

Looking Ahead

As of now, there’s quite a bit of excitement surrounding the project. Community members, city officials, and tech enthusiasts alike are keen to see how Project Raptor will unfold and reshape the industrial landscape of Hutto. Will it open doors for more tech investments in the region? Will it continue to attract forward-thinking companies looking for a home in this fast-growing area? Only time will tell!

Stay tuned for more updates as construction moves forward and plans unfold for this pioneering data center project in Hutto!