Protective economic development

Economic development has the ability to build a stronger future while protecting the community.

The recently approved Project Blue Hole MOU demonstrated this very well with its development agreement.

Earlier this year as discussions surrounding Project Blue Hole progressed, the Development Authority of Early County quickly recognized the important responsibility to ensure that the City of Blakely had appropriate protections as this new industry prepared to locate within its jurisdiction.

Since the City did not have a data center ordinance in place, the Development Authority was determined to proactively address potential impacts through a legally binding development agreement attached to the project’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.

While an ordinance establishes regulatory requirements through the local government, a development agreement such as this one establishes contractual obligations that can be required of the developer. By incorporating development standards connected with the PILOT, the Authority intends to work alongside the City to provide protections similar to those which would be established through a data center ordinance.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), executed with the company, the Development Authority, the City of Blakely, Early County and the Board of Education, establishes the foundation for these requirements.

The MOU identifies several development parameters, including operational noise limitations, scheduled generator testing, wastewater pretreatment and monitoring, emergency preparedness and even decommissioning planning. These provisions represent only a portion of the development standards being structured. Other requirements will be incorporated into subsequent agreements, using language and standards similar to those typically found in a comprehensive data center ordinance.

Once finalized and incorporated into binding agreements, these requirements will be enforceable through contractual methods, much like an ordinance establishes enforceable development standards. For the Office of Economic Development, this approach reflects our leadership’s responsibility to look beyond the immediate economic opportunity and protect long-term interests of our community.

Published in the Early County News on October 21, 2026.