Published on June 26, 2026
AMES, Iowa – Public input regarding both a recent proposal for a data center in Ames and establishing policy about any future data center development will take place at a special City Council Listening Session on Tuesday, June 30. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ames City Hall Auditorium, 520 Sixth St.
In May, City staff received a letter from Lightedge, a data center provider headquartered in Des Moines, expressing interest in developing a data center on approximately 10.86 acres along Aviation Way, directly west of property occupied by Sigler Companies. The proposed facility would be constructed in phases based on customer demand over an estimated 10-year period. On June 23, the Council reviewed a staff presentation and received input from representatives of Lightedge. The staff report considered many aspects of the project including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) impacts, lease considerations, electricity issues, and alternative properties.
The public input session will begin in the City Auditorium. Participants will move into the City Hall Gymnasium to share feedback in small groups with Councilmembers. The meeting will regroup in the City Auditorium for report-outs and next steps.
Due to the interactive nature of the meeting, the listening session will not be livestreamed. The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, July 14, for its next regularly scheduled meeting.
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