Southern Virginia is getting a front-row seat to the data center boom, and that could be a game-changer for towns like South Boston, only 21 miles away. With TECfusions announcing a major expansion in Clarksville—just up the road—the ripple effects could bring new jobs, business growth, and infrastructure upgrades to the entire region.
More Than Just Servers and Wires
When folks hear “data center,” they probably picture massive buildings full of blinking lights and high-tech equipment. And while that’s true, these projects bring a lot more than just servers—they bring jobs, investment, and opportunities that stretch well beyond Clarksville. TECfusions’ expansion alone is expected to add 300 megawatts of capacity, and that means a need for construction workers, engineers, electricians, and IT professionals. Some of those workers will stay in Clarksville, but plenty will look for housing, schools, and businesses in places like South Boston.
Why Here?
Clarksville sits in a sweet spot—close enough to the Research Triangle in North Carolina to tap into tech talent from Raleigh and Durham, but far enough away to offer lower costs and plenty of open land. That’s a big reason why data centers are moving south from Northern Virginia, where space is tight and prices are sky-high. The whole region is starting to look like the next big data hub, and that’s an opportunity for South Boston.
A Growing Data Center Corridor
TECfusions isn’t the only player betting on Southern Virginia. Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have already set up shop in the region, and more companies are likely to follow. As these tech giants move in, they’re bringing high-paying jobs with them—and those workers will need places to live, eat, and shop. That’s good news for local real estate, small businesses, and just about anyone looking to see their community grow.
What’s in It for South Boston?
• More Jobs: Construction jobs in the short term, tech and support jobs in the long run.
• Business Growth: More people moving in means more customers for local businesses.
• Better Infrastructure: Data centers need serious power and internet, and those upgrades benefit the whole community.
• A Future in Tech: With the right investment in workforce training, local schools and colleges could start producing the next generation of data center techs and engineers.
A New Chapter for Southern Virginia
For decades, towns like South Boston built their economies around manufacturing and agriculture. But the world’s changing, and the tech industry is opening up new doors. With the right planning and investment, these towns could position themselves as key players in the growing data center industry—without losing the small-town charm that makes them special.
Eddie Coleman, CCIM, is the Principal Investment Officer at NC Capital Group. With over 40 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate in North Carolina and South Carolina, his experience spans multifamily, retail, office, historic adaptation, etc. In addition to advising clients and brokering transactions, he has extensive knowledge of North Carolina through experience in corporate site acquisition, development, capitalization, HUD financing, etc. He holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.