Data Center Census Near me

Menomonie Data Center (Balloonist LLC)

Menomonie, Dunn County, WI

PausedMayor said in September 2025 the city will not negotiate a development agreement or TIF district at this time
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating
Paused

Balloonist LLC proposed a $1.6 billion data center on about 320 acres of farmland that the Menomonie City Council annexed from the Town of Red Cedar and rezoned in 2025. In September 2025 Mayor Randy Knaack said the city would not negotiate a development agreement or tax increment district at this time, putting the project on pause.

Stated investment
$1.6 billion
Site size
320 acres
around 320 acres
Water use
75,000 gal/day
city estimate, around 75,000 gallons per day

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size320 acres [1]
around 320 acres
Source excerpt
“The city council has annexed and rezoned around 320 acres of farmland, but some of those who voted yes say they don't necessarily support the data center and need more information from developers.”
Stated investment$1.6 billion [1]
Source excerpt
“An unnamed tech company is proposing a $1.6 billion data center in the western Wisconsin city of Menomonie — and concerned citizens are raising the alarm.”
Permanent jobs (promised)50-75 [1]
range: between 50 and 75 full-time employees, per city FAQ
Source excerpt
“would provide up to 1,000 construction jobs and result in between 50 and 75 full time employees working "six-figure jobs."”
Construction jobs1,000 [1]
up to 1,000, per city FAQ
Source excerpt
“A frequently asked questions sheet posted by the city claims the 320-acre site would host a $1.6 billion data center, would provide up to 1,000 construction jobs and result in between 50 and 75 full time employees working "six-figure jobs."”

Water

Water use75,000 gal/day [1]
city estimate, around 75,000 gallons per day
Source excerpt
“The city estimates the data center would use around 75,000 gallons of water per day.”

Money & incentives

Tax incentivesCity will not negotiate a development agreement or establish a tax increment district at this time [3]
Source excerpt
“the City will not negotiate a development agreement or establish a tax increment district at this time to support a data center.”

Local decisions & site

ZoningAnnexed from the Town of Red Cedar and rezoned [1]
Source excerpt
“Council member Sydney Brennan, who voted to annex from the neighboring Town of Red Cedar and rezone it, said the council has been told it's one of five major tech companies.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. Menomonie's city administrator signs a nondisclosure agreement with Balloonist [4]

  2. City council annexes and rezones about 320 acres of farmland for the project [2]

  3. Mayor directs the city administrator to contact Balloonist LLC about his decision [2]

  4. Mayor announces at a council meeting that the city will not move forward with a development agreement [4]

  5. City council votes unanimously to add regulations on data center projects [4]

Issues raised

  • City officials signed nondisclosure agreements with Balloonist, and the operating company has not been named [1][4]
  • Mayor Knaack said he acted after listening to community concerns [2]

Sources

  1. $1.6B data center proposed in Menomonie draws strong response from concerned citizens
    WPR · Sep 5, 2025 · news
  2. Menomonie mayor puts $1.6B data center proposal on hold
    WPR · Sep 23, 2025 · news
  3. Press Release: Mayor Randy Knaack on Data Center
    City of Menomonie · Sep 23, 2025 · government
  4. One Wisconsin City Beat Back a Data Center. Now Residents Are Helping Others Do the Same.
    Next City · Apr 20, 2026 · news