Update from Rome-Floyd County Development Authority

On September 8, 2025, during a Rome City Commissioners meeting, Spencer Hogg, the newly appointed President and CEO of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority, emphasized his commitment to enhancing the economic well-being of the community. He stressed the importance of supporting existing businesses before pursuing new job opportunities. A significant part of the discussion revolved around the potential for data centers, which Hogg identified as a critical element for future industrial growth due to their storage and AI capabilities. He confirmed that a property sale in the Battey Business Complex for a data center to Atlas Development had already been approved.

City Commissioner Bill Collins expressed a need for community engagement regarding the data center plans, noting he was unaware of the sale until it was finalized. Hogg assured that he would strive for better communication in future negotiations. The property?s sale did not require a full commission review, as it is owned by the development authority and zoned for Heavy Industrial use. Collins also proposed a town hall meeting to discuss data centers further, while City Manager Sammy Rich suggested visiting existing data center communities to understand their impact better.