AVAIO Digital Partners has announced plans to develop a large-scale AI-focused data campus in central Arkansas, marking one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in the state’s history. Known as the Leo Data Hub, the hyperscale campus will be located outside Little Rock and is designed to support up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity at full buildout. The first phase of the project, valued at $6 billion, is targeted to go live in 2027.
Spanning approximately 760 acres, the Leo Data Hub is being designed specifically for AI and high-performance computing workloads, where power availability and scalability are critical constraints. To address these challenges, AVAIO is adopting a hybrid energy strategy that combines utility-supplied electricity with significant on-site power generation, reducing reliance on the regional grid and improving long-term energy resilience.
For the initial phase, AVAIO has secured a 150-megawatt power agreement with Entergy Arkansas, with plans to expand capacity incrementally as demand grows toward the 1 GW target. The site’s proximity to major fiber routes linking Dallas, Memphis, and Atlanta provides low-latency connectivity to key interconnection hubs while extending digital infrastructure reach into emerging markets across the Southeast and Midwest.
The campus design incorporates sustainability and efficiency measures, including rooftop solar installations, water-efficient cooling systems, and rainwater recapture. Environmental integration is also a core element of the plan, with existing forest buffers and native landscaping intended to reduce visual impact and support alignment with the surrounding community.
Long-Term Economic and Workforce Impact
Over multiple development phases, total investment in the Leo Data Hub could exceed $21 billion, positioning Arkansas as a growing contender in the national AI infrastructure landscape. The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs and more than 500 permanent operational roles across electrical, mechanical, and IT disciplines.
State and regional leaders credit recent policy changes for helping secure the project, including streamlined permitting for energy infrastructure and targeted incentives for large-scale digital developments. Organizations such as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Little Rock Regional Chamber view the Leo Data Hub as a catalyst for broader technology-sector growth rather than a standalone investment.
For AVAIO Digital Partners, the Arkansas campus represents an opportunity to pilot a next-generation infrastructure model that integrates power, land use, and compute planning from the outset. As AI-driven workloads continue to reshape data center requirements, the company positions the Leo Data Hub as a strategic response to an industry where infrastructure readiness is increasingly a decisive competitive advantage.
