Data Centers
Florida’s data centers have access to some of the busiest and developed connectivity networks, overall low costs of power, and favorable business environments across the country. There is no doubt that data centers within the state have had monumental impacts on the economy by creating a multitude of jobs across construction, information technology, corporate, and education sectors. With impacts extending across environment sustainability and artificial intelligence, Florida data centers have gained much deserved traction over.
Data center projects create multiple job opportunities from when they start construction to when they become active and offer full-time employment positions. Large, hyperscale projects are known to make monumental impacts on the economy through creating hundreds of full-time positions as well as multiple additional positions through contract and support services. Additionally, Florida added over 3000 tech businesses to its economy since 2021, increasing its IT workforce to over 237,000 workers. Over the last two years, Florida’s tech net employment grew by 4.8%, well above the national figure of 3.2%.
Transportation
Sumter County represents a fulfillment center/distribution hub unique in the state, strategically located at the crossroads of I-75, Florida’s Turnpike and CSX Rail’s main freight line.
Roads
Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike
US Highway 301 and US Highway 27
State Roads 44, 48 and SR 50
Airports
Orlando International (1 hour)
Tampa International (1 hour)
Leesburg Regional (20 minutes)
Seaports
Port of Tampa (1 hour)
Port Manatee (1.25 hours)
Port Canaveral (1.75 hours)
Port of Jacksonville (2.5 hours)
Port of Miami (4 hours)
Rail Service
CSX rail is an integral element of the Sumter County transportation hub. CSX’s S-line industrial rail runs the entire north-south length of the county, providing Sumter businesses major distribution advantages.
CSX currently rolls 15 to 25 trains per day through Sumter County, each pulling up to 90 freight cars, serving 23 states over their 21,000 mile rail network.
Market Access and Export Capabilities
While it’s true that Sumter County isn’t located directly on the coast, that’s been little impediment when it comes to our international trade. Interstates, rail lines and nearby ports provide an excellent network of transit points for your products, tools and imports. And as a bonus, our inland location is less susceptible to hurricane damage while also being significantly less expensive than a location directly on the Gulf or Atlantic coasts.
A number of export resources from counseling to financing also exist for fulfillment center businesses in the County.
Incentives
In an effort to help attract businesses within the targeted industries of manufacturing, data centers, fulfillment centers, and agriculture, Sumter County has approved and adopted a set of targeted business incentives for companies locating and/or expanding their operations in the County. Even with Sumter County’s advantages of a low and stable tax rate, low debt ratio and proactive business philosophy, you can still enjoy competitive incentives to help make your decision to locate in Sumter County even easier.
Industry Incentives for Data Centers (=/> 100k SF)
Sumter County embraces a diversified economy. The global data center market is experiencing a significant boom, with the U.S. at the forefront of this digital boom. With the population and economic growth in Florida also comes an increase in power consumption and a surging demand for electricity. Sumter County offers a targeted data center cash incentive. This incentive is independent of any state grant funds obtained by the business unless otherwise stated in the written agreement between Sumter County and the investor.
Incentive Guidelines:
- The data center incentive applies to businesses performing data center operations in the county that are in the computing infrastructure, data processing services and web hosting industry, as specified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and approved by Sumter County Economic Development as a qualified business.
- A minimum capital construction investment* of $10M, as declared on the building permit application, to real property located within Sumter County, Florida is required.
- The data center cash incentive is calculated as follows:
- The total payout amount for investors is up to 2% of the company’s building capital investment, not to exceed a maximum of $1,000,000 per year, for a combined total of $3,000,000 over three years**.
- Payout amounts for the data center incentive are paid by the county in three equal payments as follows:
- The first payment is processed on the opening day of the facility in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive, provided company received a certificate of occupancy.
- The second payment is processed one year after the first payment is made in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive.
- The third payment is processed one year after the second payment is made in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive.
- The data center incentive is limited to three (3) years and the business must reapply each year.
- Proof of investment is required before an incentive payment is made to the business in the form of a copy of the Building Permit Application noting the original Declared Value as submitted to Sumter County.
- First incentive payment is processed once the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
* Capital investment does not include the cost of land.
** The county’s obligation to provide incentive funding is limited based upon the availability, appropriation, and approval of funds in the county’s budget and subject to the terms of the incentive agreement.
Business Data
Transportation
Highways: I-75; Florida Turnpike; US Hwy 301; SR 44, SR 48, SR 50
Airports: Orlando Intl. (1 hr.), Tampa Intl. (1 hr.) and Leeburg Regional Airport (20 mins.)
Seaports: Deepwater Ports of Tampa (1 hr), Manatee (1.5 hrs.), Jacksonville (2.5 hrs.), Canaveral (2 hrs.) and Miami (4 hrs.)
Rail Service: Industrial rail service by CSX Transportation’s main Eastern Seaboard freight line (S-Line)
Education
● School System “A Rated” for five consecutive years by State Board of Education
● Lake Sumter State College partners with Sumter County Schools and UCF to offer Bachelor’s degrees, vocational certificates and technology diplomas
● Regional campuses of UCF located nearby in Leesburg and Clermont
● USF and UF, both top national research institutions, are an hour away in Tampa and Gainesville respectively
Sumter Strengths
Incentives
An aggressive local incentive package for targeted industries that includes incentives for manufacturing, data centers, fulfillment centers, and agricultural businesses.
Location, Location, Location
Sumter County is a major, regional transportation hub for Central Florida at the crossroads of Interstate 75, Florida’s Turnpike and CSX’s main freight line, with access to major airports and seaports less than 90 minutes away.
Pro-Business Philosophy
Pro-business county leadership and economic development team with a personal commitment and passion for supporting local businesses.
A Commitment to Business
An Industrial Development Authority whose sole mission is to facilitate business growth and expedite the processing of bonds.
