Equipping the critical infrastructure community with the tools and expertise to engage local stakeholders and officials
Don’t be Caught Off-Guard
In recent years, the data center industry has been caught off guard by many communities’ pushback to data center developments, leading to projects being significantly delayed or rejected altogether.
The biggest roadblock is the lack of a cohesive community engagement strategy within the industry.
Many data center developers do not expect public outcry and need to prepare to deal with it when it happens.
If data center developments are to succeed, the industry as a whole, as well as individual developers, need to have an engagement plan for interacting with local communities. Data center owners and operators need localized community relations strategies to activate a local base of influential supporters.
Blending Public Affairs, Political, and Data Center Experience
With nearly twenty years of data center experience and a background in politics and public affairs, Adam Waitkunas oversees Milldam’s community relations practice and works with data center developers on strategies to properly communicate with local leaders and other stakeholders while helping to shape public opinion.
Navigating The Complexities of Community Relations
Strong community engagement is essential for successfully navigating the complexities of community relations when building a data center.
To help you achieve this, we offer the following strategies and services:
- Establishing partnerships with third-party organizations such as Chambers of Commerce.
- Communicating the numerous benefits of data centers in the community, including economic development, infrastructure improvements, and job creation.
- Developing and providing key talking points.
- Ensuring that local decision-makers hear our client’s messages.
- Implementing a wide variety of grassroots campaigns and community outreach.
- Enabling local supporters to serve as ambassadors and equipping them with the tools to communicate the benefits of proposed developments.
- Building coalitions.
- Garnering the pulse of public opinion.
Communicating The Benefits of Data Center Development While Mitigating The Negative Image
Data centers are viewed unfavorably in some communities due to their perceived potential to disrupt the local way of life. And with tools for grassroots organizing continually improving, it is now easier than ever for those opposing data centers to mobilize and voice their concerns, including:
- Traffic infrastructure management
- Environmental concerns
- Noise
- Impact on the fabric of the community
Milldam’s Data Center Community Relations practice helps data center developers equip themselves with comprehensive plans to articulate the benefits of data centers to the local community while proactively addressing concerns, ensuring a smoother path to success for the project.
Reach out to Milldam today for the tactics to succeed with local stakeholders and decision-makers.
Bridging the gap between communities and critical infrastructure providers
