- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Rossford Residents Debate Data Center Development
Mayor says no suitable land available, but opponents remain unconvinced
Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:50am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The anti-data center movement in northwest Ohio made an appearance in Rossford, Ohio, last Monday night to debate the possibility of bringing a data center to the city. While Rossford Mayor Neil MacKinnon III stated there is no available ground suitable for a data center, data center opponents remained unconvinced and continued to make their case against the development.
Why it matters
Data centers have become a contentious issue in northwest Ohio, with some residents opposing their development due to concerns over their impact on the community. However, proponents argue that data centers can bring significant economic benefits, including construction jobs, infrastructure upgrades, and increased school funding.
The details
During the Rossford city council meeting, Mayor MacKinnon stated that there is no available land suitable for a data center in the city, making the discussion largely theoretical. However, data center opponents remained adamant about making their case against the development. A concern was raised that Rossford might annex Perrysburg Township property for use as a data center, but the mayor responded that a Joint Economic Development District agreement with Perrysburg Township would be an easier option.
- The Rossford city council meeting took place last Monday night.
- Perrysburg Township and Rossford have had a successful partnership, with Amazon's data center project generating a $5 million payment for the city of Toledo and $1 million per year for city water.
The players
Neil MacKinnon III
The mayor of Rossford, Ohio, who stated that there is no available land suitable for a data center in the city.
Kitty McConnell
The director of communications for the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation, who argued in favor of data center development, stating that it would bring thousands of construction jobs and other economic benefits to the region.
What they’re saying
“We want the thousands of construction jobs that are the main economic output of data centers to come to northwest Ohio. We want those to be prevailing wage jobs that help put food on the table of union building trades people, including operating engineers, laborers, plumbers, pipe fitters, iron workers, and electricians.”
— Kitty McConnell, Director of Communications, Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation
What’s next
Mayor MacKinnon stated that an easier option for data center development would be a Joint Economic Development District agreement with Perrysburg Township, which could provide a path forward if suitable land is identified.
The takeaway
The debate over data center development in northwest Ohio highlights the ongoing tensions between economic growth and community concerns. While proponents argue that data centers can bring significant benefits, opponents remain unconvinced and continue to voice their opposition. The outcome of this debate will likely have far-reaching implications for the region's economic future.
