$6 Billion AVAIO Digital Leo Data Center Planned for Little Rock, With Potential to Scale Much Larger

Little Rock is poised to become a major player in the nation’s digital infrastructure landscape with the planned development of a new data center campus known as AVAIO Digital Leo. The project will be built in multiple phases, beginning with an initial $6 billion investment, and could ultimately represent one of the largest private infrastructure developments in Arkansas history.

The AVAIO Digital Leo campus is planned for a 760-acre site located approximately 10 miles from downtown Little Rock. According to early project details, the initial phase includes 150 megawatts of contracted power, with delivery targeted around June 2027. As demand grows, the campus is expected to scale significantly, with long-term projections indicating up to 1 gigawatt of power capacity at full buildout.

At full scale, total investment tied to the project could reach as much as $21 billion, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of hyperscale data center development. Large data centers require substantial investments in land, power infrastructure, fiber connectivity, cooling systems, and long-term operational capacity to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced telecommunications services.

The project is also expected to generate meaningful economic impacts for the region. Local reports indicate the data center could support more than 500 full-time operational jobs over its first five years, in addition to hundreds of construction jobs generated during each development phase. Large-scale developments of this type also tend to create indirect demand for local contractors, suppliers, engineers, and professional services.

AVAIO Digital Leo will require significant electrical infrastructure. Project plans reference hundreds of megawatts of additional grid power, with coordination underway to ensure long-term energy delivery as the campus expands. Data centers of this scale often serve national or global clients and are designed to operate continuously, making power reliability and redundancy critical considerations.

Beyond economic and technological impacts, projects of this size raise important community questions around workforce development, energy use, environmental considerations, and long-term community benefits. As development progresses, transparency around hiring practices, local supplier participation, and community investment will be key areas of interest for residents, businesses, and public officials.

Little Rock’s selection as the site for AVAIO Digital Leo reflects the city’s growing role in the digital economy, supported by available land, strategic location, and access to power and connectivity. If fully realized, the project could position Central Arkansas as a significant hub for digital infrastructure in the South Central United States.

As additional details are released, stakeholders across the region will continue to assess how the project evolves and how its substantial investment translates into long-term economic, workforce, and community benefits for Little Rock and the surrounding area.

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