Tech Surge in Social Circle: Two Major Data Center Proposals Advance

Social Circle, Georgia, is attracting high-tech industrial investment as two major data center developments move through municipal review. Both projects promise substantial capital investment, high-wage job creation, and expansion of the city’s Industrial Character Area.

Project 1: Dermody PL Acquisition Co., LLC – East Hightower Trail
Dermody PL Acquisition Co., LLC, a national real estate developer specializing in logistics and data center properties, has applied for a Special Use Permit (SU-2025-008) to construct a 1,000,000-square-foot data center campus on 96.01 acres zoned Light Industrial.

Development Plan:

• Four two-story buildings, each ~250,000 square feet.

• Continuous 24/7 operations for data processing.

• Considered lower-impact than traditional Light Industrial uses, with reduced traffic, noise, and truck activity.

Power & Utilities:

• Georgia Power is the provider, with a new 100,000-square-foot onsite substation planned adjacent to an existing facility.

• Peak water usage: ~1,000,000 gallons/day; peak sewer: ~400,000 gallons/day.

• The project emphasizes water-efficient systems and low-impact operations.

Timeline & Issues:

• Expected buildout: 4–5 years; first building operational within 2–3 years.

• Substation operational target: 2027.

• Securing the Special Use Permit is critical before end-user commitments; permit approval does not guarantee utilities or construction clearance.

• Community engagement: a virtual October 7, 2025, meeting drew no attendees; design includes 200-foot buffers to neighboring properties.

Project 2: GA Strouds Creek Land, LLC – Phase II Annexation/Highway 11
GA Strouds Creek Land, LLC is pursuing annexation, rezoning, and a Special Use Permit (SU-2025-009) for a 980.78-acre technology park along Highway 11, designated by Georgia EMC as the Georgia Historic Heartland Megasite.

Development Plan:

• Campus-style data center with 12 single-story buildings (exact square footage unspecified).

• Expected workforce: ~200 high-paid technicians.

• Modern technology will limit water demand for cooling.

Timeline & Issues:

• Project spans both Social Circle and unincorporated Newton County; annexation approval is required for full implementation.

• Minimal impact on local schools or infrastructure is anticipated.

• Community engagement: a virtual meeting on October 15, 2025, drew no participants.

The concurrent emergence of these two large-scale data center proposals—Dermody’s 1,000,000-square-foot campus and GA Strouds Creek’s 12-building technology park—signals a concerted push to expand Social Circle’s high-tech industrial footprint, leveraging available land and infrastructure while promising significant economic benefits.