New Study Finds Opportunities from Data Centers Can Extend Across Entire NWI Economy

A new academic analysis released today identifies a six-layer ancillary impact ecosystem that could accompany hyperscale data center development across Northwest Indiana's seven counties, providing regional leaders with a detailed framework for capturing local economic activity.  The study, authored by Dr. Justin Ross of Indiana University Bloomington and Dr. Saurav Roychoudhury of Capital University, expands the authors' economic impact analysis by examining which portions of hyperscale construction, operations, and service requirements can be supplied by firms and workers within the Region.

View the full study here: https://nwidatafacts.nwiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Role-of-Data-Centers-for-Ancillary-Businesses-and-Northwest-Indianas-Technology-Stack-9.10.26-1.pdf

"Data centers have a six-layer economic ecosystem for contributing to the Northwest region that only just starts with construction and operations of the data center. When thinking about the opportunities in public policy and private business, there are several different levers to start pulling. The support economy for example, which includes housing, retail, health, and civic infrastructure supported by circulating payroll sees a $1.26 billion induced output during construction and $154.8 million a year influx in annual operations," said co-author Dr. Justin Ross, Professor of Economics at Indiana University Bloomington,

"This analysis gives our member communities exactly the kind of specificity they need," said Heather Ennis, President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum. "It tells us which industries our counties should be preparing for, which local firms could pivot to serve this market, and where workforce investments need to be made. That's actionable intelligence for local leaders to ensure we’re capturing the full benefits that advanced technology investments can bring to our communities."

Six-layer ecosystem framework

The study organizes the ancillary activity into six layers distilled from the results gathered from three mature case studies of hyperscale data facilities.

1.      Construction & Skilled Trades: During the three-year construction period, a project will leverage Northwest Indiana's strong skilled trades workforce, generating an estimated $6.7 billion in regional economic output and $1.34 billion in earnings while creating thousands of opportunities for construction and related industries

2.      Operations & Maintenance: Once operational, a project will support long-term economic activity through ongoing maintenance, on-site staffing, and systems services, generating approximately $330.1 million in regional output annually and sustaining an estimated 1,815 jobs.

3.      Energy Infrastructure: Increased demand for electricity and related utility investments will spur additional economic growth, contributing an estimated $497.8 million in annual regional output and supporting approximately 1,116 permanent jobs tied to energy and field service operations.

4.      Workforce Development: Partnerships with Ivy Tech, WorkOne, regional universities and union apprenticeship programs will help connect residents to high-paying careers, creating a pipeline of skilled talent to meet both construction and long-term operational workforce needs.

5.      Professional Services: The project will create demand for architecture, engineering, project management, and other professional services, generating new business opportunities for regional firms while helping build expertise that can be leveraged on future projects throughout the region and beyond.

6.      Support Economy: Beyond its direct employment and business opportunities, a project's economic benefits will ripple throughout the region, supporting housing, retail, healthcare, and community infrastructure through increased household spending. These induced impacts are expected to generate an estimated $1.26 billion in economic output during construction and an additional $154.8 million annually once operations begin.

A differentiated strategy across seven counties

The study highlights the unique role each county can play in supporting the region's growth, building existing assets, and announced projects. Potential opportunities include, but are not limited to:

·         Lake County: Positioned to support interconnection and operating services, Lake County is expected to benefit from growing demand for managed and cybersecurity services, colocation facilities, and remote hands support critical to data center operations.

·         Porter County: With its strategic transportation assets and industrial base, Porter County is well-suited for mission-critical logistics, equipment staging, heavy-haul transportation, and industrial-edge applications that support large-scale technology investments.

·         LaPorte County: Building on momentum from the announced Microsoft campus, LaPorte County is poised for growth in critical facilities management, controls and HVAC services, and supplier qualification opportunities connected to expanding digital infrastructure.

·         Jasper County: Anchored by the announced Amazon investment, Jasper County is expected to see increased demand for grid and civil construction work, ongoing maintenance services, and host-site infrastructure development.

·         Newton and Pulaski Counties: Opportunities in rural fiber deployment, managed-service operations, and targeted edge technologies are expected to support economic growth across both counties, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, and logistics applications.

·         Starke County: Through SCILL-supported trades and automation training programs, Starke County is helping prepare the workforce needed to access and support emerging regional project opportunities, creating pathways to high-demand careers.

What data centers actually buy locally

The study finds that annual electricity purchases and infrastructure maintenance are the largest recurring drivers of local demand. Citing a 2026 Cushman & Wakefield analysis, the study notes that data-center-related activity accounted for 14.4 percent of new industrial leasing across six major U.S. markets in 2025, a 44 percent year-over-year increase, with 47 percent of Chicago-market tenants classified as "third-degree" users whose services extend well beyond data centers.

"Northwest Indiana doesn't need an entirely new industrial base to serve this market," said Dr. Saurav Roychoudhury, study co-author and Professor of Finance and Economics at Capital University. "Its existing strengths in steel, fabrication, electrical equipment, construction, transportation, and warehousing can be adapted to the expanding data-center supply chain while continuing to serve traditional customers. The case study evidence from Quincy, Central Ohio, and Loudoun County shows exactly how that adaptation happens."

About the authors

Dr. Justin Ross is Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Indiana University Bloomington. Dr. Saurav Roychoudhury is Professor of Finance and Economics at Capital University.