While public opposition to a potential data center has been loud — and active — since the Flint Hills Digital Campus was announced in early June, there are signs that effort doesn’t reflect the whole community — in specific, Emporia’s business community.
A survey circulating among Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce businesses, Emporia Main Street businesses and Regional Development Association-related businesses, with conversations also including Emporia Enterprises and Visit Emporia, generated slightly over 100 responses. Participants were asked to rate their level support for the Digital Campus project based on current knowledge, level of support based on all potential benefits being realized, support for the City Commission approving the Digital Infrastructure Overlay and other policy measures as recommended by the Emporia Planning Commission and willingness to convey their thoughts about the potential data center. Survey responses were collected this week.
The survey’s presence was announced on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Friday. Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods:
The support based on current knowledge, the question Woods referenced, had almost 45 percent of survey participants strongly supporting and another 27 percent supporting — a total of nearly 72 percent. Those opposed or strongly opposed were at almost 7.5 percent total.
There were similar numbers of support to strong support versus opposition to strong opposition if all potential benefits are realized, with over 84 percent showing some level of support and over 6.5 percent opposed. The same can be said for supporting the City Commission approving zoning changes as recommended, with almost 87 percent in favor versus 8.4 percent opposed.
Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim Vice President Brad Kraft developed the survey. To him, it’s clear Emporia businesses support exploring the project.
Emporia city commissioners will consider several items at their meeting Wednesday, including zoning matters affecting 11 tracts of land as well as policies for large-volume water and wastewater users. Kraft says the votes Wednesday won’t serve as a referendum on AI or other topics.
Both Kraft and Woods say these policies are needed, but the development agreement is really the focal point for how any data center project should — or shouldn’t — move forward. He says speculation, which has been rampant since the Digital Campus was announced, should largely end if a development agreement is settled.
A criticism of the overall process has been the amount of conversations behind closed doors before it was announced to the public. Woods says that’s how business development works — and, he says, with good reason.
Survey results can be found below. Woods says it’s good to have public input with a decision of this magnitude.
Kraft says city leaders will make sure questions are addressed as the process continues.
Meanwhile, data center opponents continue their push across Lyon County, having presented a potential ordinance to the Americus City Council on Tuesday and working towards similar presentations for the county’s other small towns later. A petition designed to either stop the process outright, if Emporia city commissioners affirm the document, or put the data center and related battery energy storage systems on the Nov 3 ballot is currently in the signature validation process.
Survey questions and results as provided by Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods
*Based on your current knowledge of the Digital Campus project, please rate your level of support.
Total responses: 107
Strongly support: 48 or 44.86 percent
Support: 29 or 27.10 percent
Neutral: 22 or 20.56 percent
Neutral-not relevant: 0
Oppose: 2 or 1.87 percent
Strongly oppose: 6 or 5.61 percent
Neutral to strong support: 92.52 percent
Support to strong support: 71.96 percent
Oppose to strong opposition: 7.48 percent
*Until an end user is selected and a development agreement can be negotiated, specific benefits can only be estimated; assuming internal estimates are correct, the project would A) significantly increase the tax base, allowing for infrastructure improvements in the city and increased funding to improve USD 253 public schools while significantly reducing property taxes for citizens and businesses; B) bring 1,000 to 2,000 construction jobs during the 8-10-year buildout and perhaps longer; C) employ 300-500 persons ongoing within the campus and an additional 300-500 supporting jobs from ancillary and supporting industries that desire to co-locate or be in a technology corridor; D) be higher-paying jobs than the area currently supports; E) create a technology educator role to secure the future of Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. Assuming these benefits all come to fruition, how would you rate your level of support?
Total votes: 107
Strongly support: 72 or 67.29 percent
Support: 18 or 16.82 percent
Neutral: 9 or 8.41 percent
Neutral-not relevant: 1 or 0.93 percent
Oppose: 2 or 1.87 percent
Strongly oppose: 5 or 4.67 percent
Neutral to strong support: 93.46 percent
Support to strong support: 84.11 percent
Oppose to strong opposition: 6.54 percent
*This project cannot be presented or marketed to a potential end user(s) until the land proposed for the development is zoned to allow it to be used for a digital campus. How would you rate your support to the City Commission to approve the zoning changes on July 22, 2026 as recommended by the Planning Commission to allow the project to proceed to the marketing phase?
Total votes: 107
Strongly support: 71 or 66.36 percent
Support: 22 or 20.56 percent
Neutral: 5 or 4.67 percent
Neutral-not relevant: 0
Oppose: 2 or 1.87 percent
Strongly oppose: 7 or 6.54 percent
Neutral to strong support: 91.59 percent
Support to strong support: 86.92 percent
Oppose to strong opposition: 841 percent
*How willing are you to communicate your feelings concerning this economic development project? (Check all that apply)
Speaking at public meetings: 17
Post a sign in front of your business or house: 17
Communicate directly with city commissioners: 73
Sign a petition concerning the project: 43
Speak to friends and associates: 79
None: 15
