HIT Park Data Center FAQ

The Heartland Innovative Technology Park (HIT Park) is a 280-acre industrial and technology development site owned by the Prince Edward County Industrial Development Authority (IDA). The property was acquired in 2020 and has been the focus of more than a decade of economic development planning, infrastructure engineering, grant funding, and site readiness efforts designed to attract major private-sector investment. The site is located east of Farmville, has major electric transmission infrastructure, and is near regional fiber networks.

The County and IDA have entered into agreements with AVAIO Digital Partners II, LLC, a data center developer, regarding the potential purchase and development of the HIT Park as a data center campus. The project remains in the due diligence and development planning phase. No site plans, building permits, or construction plans have been submitted to Prince Edward County at this time.

The agreements contemplate development of a multi-building data center campus on approximately 280 acres. Publicly available project documents reference up to 300 megawatts (MW) of electric service and multiple data center buildings. However, final project size, building locations, and development phasing have not yet been submitted for review.

AVAIO Digital Partners (https://www.avaiodigital.com/) is a data center developer and operator that identifies, acquires, and develops sites for large-scale data center projects.  Other AVAIO project sites in Virginia include Appomattox County and Caroline County.

Prince Edward County first identified data centers as a targeted economic development opportunity in 2014 and began actively evaluating opportunities with regional and state economic development partners in 2019. The County subsequently acquired the HIT Park property, amended its zoning regulations after public notices and public hearings, pursued infrastructure grants, and conducted engineering studies to prepare the site for future development.

Yes. In July 2020, the County amended its Zoning Ordinance to define and permit data centers as a by-right use within the C-1 Commercial Zoning District. The HIT Park was rezoned to C-1 Commercial following public notices and public hearings before both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

No. While data center use is permitted on the property, no site plans, building permits, or construction plans have been submitted or approved.

Not in the form of additional public hearings or votes by the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors.  Because data centers are already a permitted use within the HIT Park, future development proposals would proceed through the administrative review process established by County ordinance.

That does not mean projects avoid review. Any development must still comply with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements, including site plan review, building permits, environmental permits, stormwater management requirements, utility approvals, and other technical standards. Those reviews are conducted by County staff and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance before construction can occur.

Citizens will continue to have access to public records and information regarding the project as required by law.

Potential water sources could include the Town of Farmville water system or Prince Edward County's Sandy River Reservoir system. The final source will depend on the requirements of the eventual end users and the approved development plans.

That information is not currently known. Water demand depends heavily on the cooling technology ultimately selected and the needs of the future tenant(s). No detailed engineering plans have been submitted.  However, based on technology trends and best practices, closed loop systems are likely to be included in these plans.

No cooling system has been proposed at this time. Modern data centers utilize a variety of cooling technologies, including air-cooled, liquid-cooled, and hybrid systems.

Any water withdrawals would be subject to state regulations and permit conditions. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulates water withdrawals and drought management requirements.

Yes. Any future development must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations, including stormwater, erosion and sediment control, wetlands, and other environmental requirements.

The site possesses several characteristics sought by data center developers, including access to major high voltage electric transmission infrastructure, fiber connectivity, large acreage, buffering from residential development, and transportation access.

Project documents contemplate up to 300 MW of electrical service. Actual demand will depend on the final design and occupancy of the campus.  The final power allocation is determined by Dominion Energy.

At this time, Prince Edward County has not received any utility construction plans or other information about additional transmission lines. Any required electric infrastructure improvements would be evaluated and determined through Dominion Energy's interconnection and service planning process.

Generally, customer-specific electric infrastructure required to serve a development is the responsibility of the customer and utility under applicable service agreements.

A load request and utility review process has been initiated as part of project due diligence. Final utility commitments, construction schedules, and infrastructure requirements will be determined through Dominion Energy's formal review process.

Construction activity would generate temporary increases in traffic. Operational traffic associated with data centers is typically lower than most industrial or commercial facilities because data centers generally employ fewer workers per square foot.

Any future development proposal will be reviewed to determine its transportation impacts and identify any necessary roadway improvements.

The County recognizes that Persimmon Tree Fork Road serves as the primary access route to the HIT Park and that transportation infrastructure must keep pace with development. To proactively address future needs, Prince Edward County recently secured grant funding from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to complete a transportation study and engineering plans for improvements to Persimmon Tree Fork Road and related access infrastructure serving the HIT Park area.

The purpose of this effort is to identify needed roadway, safety, and access improvements before significant development occurs and to position the County to pursue additional state and federal transportation funding opportunities.

Any future site plan submitted for the project would also be reviewed by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Because data centers generally have relatively few daily employees compared to manufacturing plants, distribution centers, or retail developments of similar size, operational traffic volumes are typically much lower once construction is complete. The greatest traffic impacts generally occur during the construction phase and are addressed through the site development review process.

No architectural plans have been submitted.

Any future development must comply with applicable County regulations and development standards. The County is also evaluating additional supplemental development standards and best management practices specific to data center development.

The HIT Park is subject to recorded Protective Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions designed to promote high-quality development, coordinated site planning, and compatible land uses with minimal impacts on surrounding areas.

The proposed HIT Park development represents one of the largest private capital investment opportunities in Prince Edward County's history. In addition to generating significant local tax revenue, the project has the strong potential to create both direct and indirect employment opportunities during construction and operation.  The project also has the potential to attract additional commercial investment in the community.

Data centers employ a wide range of skilled workers, including electricians, HVAC technicians, facility engineers, network specialists, security personnel, operations managers, and maintenance staff. Across Virginia, data centers directly support thousands of high-paying technology and skilled trades jobs.

Equally important are the indirect and induced jobs supported by data center development. According to a 2026 economic impact analysis prepared by Mangum Economics for the Northern Virginia Technology Council, every operational data center job supports approximately two additional jobs elsewhere in the economy through suppliers, contractors, service providers, restaurants, retail businesses, construction firms, transportation companies, and other local businesses. Statewide, data centers support more than 112,000 jobs when both direct and indirect impacts are considered.

Construction of a large data center campus also creates substantial demand for skilled trades, including electricians, pipefitters, welders, equipment operators, concrete contractors, and other construction professionals. Virginia data center construction projects supported approximately 36,700 construction jobs in 2025 alone.

For Prince Edward County, these impacts could translate into:

• Long-term technology and facilities management jobs;
• Construction employment lasting several years;
• Increased demand for local contractors and suppliers;
• New opportunities for local restaurants, hotels, retailers, and service businesses;
• Expanded workforce development partnerships with Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, Southside Virginia Community College, and local schools; and
• Additional tax revenue to support public services and help maintain competitive tax rates.

As with any economic development project, the exact number of jobs and investment will depend on the final development plan submitted by the property owner.

The HIT Park represents one of the most significant economic development investments ever undertaken by Prince Edward County and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA). The property was acquired in 2020 for approximately $1.5 million and is currently under contract for sale at $12.3 million. If the transaction is completed, the sale would generate a substantial return on the original investment and provide resources that can be reinvested into future economic development initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and other public priorities.

Equally important is the level of private investment anticipated as a result of the project. Based on information provided by the developer, AVAIO is expected to invest approximately $2.4 billion to construct the data center campus and supporting infrastructure. The ultimate tenant or operator is expected to invest an additional $4.0 billion or more in servers, networking equipment, and other technology infrastructure necessary to operate the facility.

Taken together, the project has the potential to leverage a $1.5 million land acquisition into more than $6 billion in private capital investment, creating a significant expansion of the local tax base and generating long-term revenue to support public services, infrastructure, schools, and economic development opportunities throughout Prince Edward County.

As with any development project, actual investment levels, tax revenues, and economic impacts will depend on the final scope and timing of development.

Many details frequently discussed by the public—including water use, cooling systems, utility upgrades, traffic volumes, building designs, and tenant identity—cannot be determined until detailed engineering and development plans are submitted.

Prince Edward County will continue to make publicly available information accessible through its website, Board meeting materials, public records, and future project updates as additional information becomes available.

Residents may contact the County Administrator's Office, Community Development Department, or attend public meetings of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission.