QTS Announces New, World-Class Data Center Campus in Cedar Rapids 

Marks the largest economic development project in the city and state’s history

Creates thousands of jobs and reinforces Iowa’s role in sustainable digital infrastructure

ASHBURN, VA. – Aug. 8, 2025 – QTS Data Centers (“QTS”), a Blackstone portfolio company, today announced a new data center campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in partnership with local, state, and federal leaders. This marks the beginning of a transformative community partnership and the largest economic development in the city’s history. With a planned $10 billion investment, the QTS Cedar Rapids data center campus represents a long-term commitment to innovation, infrastructure, and regional growth.

Kim Reynolds, Iowa Governor said: “This facility represents a powerful endorsement of Iowa, our communities, and our potential. As the largest investment in our state’s history, this data center campus is a catalyst not only for prosperity in the present, but for a better and brighter future. We’re proud to begin building that future with QTS, one of the most innovative companies in the world.”

The data center campus will support the construction of 7 data center buildings located on 612 acres within the Big Cedar Industrial Center. The project is being developed in partnership with the City of Cedar Rapids and is expected to support over 2,000 high-quality construction and permanent jobs.

Tiffany O’Donnell, Mayor of Cedar Rapids said: “QTS represents a new era for Cedar Rapids—one defined by innovation, investment, and bold possibilities. This project not only brings world-class infrastructure to our community—it is the next big chapter in our long and proud story.”

In partnership with Alliant Energy, the data center campus will prioritize sustainability by featuring carbon-free energy sources, innovative engineering to reduce environmental impact, and QTS’s water-free cooling technology. Once fully stabilized, the Cedar Rapids campus is expected to conserve approximately 4 billion gallons of water annually, compared to data centers using evaporative cooling.

Lisa Barton, President & CEO, Alliant Energy said: “Our partnership on the QTS Cedar Rapids data center is a clear demonstration of how we’re delivering reliable energy solutions that support economic growth and innovation in the communities we serve. This project is a tangible example of the commitments we’ve made in our long-term planning and partnership with ITC Midwest, and we’re happy to help bring this opportunity to life.”

As part of its long-term commitment to Cedar Rapids, QTS is contributing up to $18 million to the Cedar Rapids-owned Community Betterment Fund and investing in other local non-profit organizations. QTS is joining efforts with the Cedar Rapids ReLeaf program and Monarch Research to replace private residents’ trees through a 5-year commitment of $100,000 per year to replace 4,000 trees per year and a total of 20,000 trees over the next five years.

Tag Greason and David Robey, Co-CEOs of QTS, said: “From day one, we believe in being a good neighbor. We chose Cedar Rapids for its strong infrastructure, skilled workforce, and forward-thinking community. As AI continues to transform industries, the need for secure and scalable infrastructure has never been more critical. This project reflects Iowa’s leadership in embracing the future of technology, and we’re proud to invest in a state that prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and community partnership.”