Data center operator outlines Canton facility plans at community meeting

DAMAC Digital will host a public forum on July 14 at 6 p.m. at the Edward Peel Coleman Community Center, 1400 Sherrick Road SE, to present plans for a hyperscale data center facility in southeast Canton. Company representatives will walk through facility layouts and take community questions at the meeting. Residents unable to attend can submit questions through the project website at orchardviewdata.com.

The Dubai-based company controls more than 80 acres northeast of Trump Avenue SE and Orchard View Drive SE. The project, branded Canton Orchard View, calls for two high-efficiency buildings and a substation designed to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. DAMAC Digital will fully fund the necessary power infrastructure. Construction is expected to require hundreds of skilled trade workers, with the completed facility projected to employ at least 60 full-time staff.

Additional reference context is available at https://www.cantonrep.com/story/business/2026/07/10/damac-digital-shares-canton-ohio-data-center-plans-to-host-meeting/90873905007/.

The cooling system is a closed-loop design using municipal water in a one-time startup mixture of 70 percent water and 30 percent propylene glycol. The liquid circulates within a sealed system, with fans providing cooling on a principle similar to automotive radiator technology. Propylene glycol is a low-toxicity compound recognized as safe by the FDA for food applications and is commonly used in deicing solutions, medicines, and cosmetics. Each building will require less than 1 million gallons of water for the initial cooling setup.

If approved, Canton Orchard View would become the third major data center project in Stark County. Bitdeer operates a 221-megawatt cryptocurrency mining facility in Massillon that is partially operational and expected to reach completion by fall. Amazon is simultaneously constructing a 240-megawatt data center in Perry Township south of Faircrest Street SW. DAMAC Digital has not disclosed investment amounts or total facility size, and company representatives did not respond to requests for further comment.

The regulatory framework is still taking shape. Canton City Council is revising zoning ordinances to address data center-specific rules covering noise, utility infrastructure, and related operational matters, with a vote on the updated measure scheduled for July 27. The city issued a demolition permit for residential structures on the property earlier this year, though the Building Department did not immediately provide detailed plans in response to a public records request.

Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II expressed support for the transparency process. “We’re looking forward to working with DAMAC to educate our community about its upcoming project and what that looks like for the City of Canton,” Sherer said. “We’re committed to being transparent and encourage residents to come ask questions, learn about the project, and be part of the conversation.”

C. Stephen MacKenzie, president and CEO of the Stark Economic Development Board, pointed to the county’s infrastructure history as a foundation for the project. “Stark County has historically benefited from its strong infrastructure, which led to generational economic growth and stability,” MacKenzie said. “Building a digital foundation in Stark County permits us to be competitive in today’s emerging industries and embrace future opportunities.”

DAMAC Group founder Hussain Sajwani, in a statement released July 9, framed the project as a continuation of Canton’s industrial tradition. “Canton has a proud history of building things that matter, and we want to continue that tradition responsibly,” he said. “By combining our development experience with eco-friendly design, we are proud to invest in Canton’s future while carefully safeguarding the local resources and quality of life that residents value most.”

DAMAC Group was established in 1982 by Sajwani as Global Logistics Services, initially providing catering before expanding across the Middle East and Central Asia. The conglomerate now operates across six sectors including property development, hospitality, retail, fashion, and data centers. DAMAC Digital was created in 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary. In January 2025, President Donald Trump and Sajwani jointly announced a 20 billion dollar investment commitment for data center development across the United States. DAMAC Digital currently has at least 35 data centers planned across 13 countries.

Community response has been uneven. Skilled trade organizations have expressed support, citing local tax revenue and employment benefits. By contrast, residents at recent Perry Township and Canton government meetings have voiced opposition and caution. Canton resident Christine Gingerich has been circulating petitions across Stark County for the Conserve Ohio initiative, which seeks to ban new data centers exceeding 25 megawatts. The organization shifted its target for a statewide ballot initiative from November to 2027 for signature collection.

Gingerich lives just under four miles from the proposed Orchard View site and has raised concerns about energy consumption, water usage, and noise. After reviewing the project website, she described cautious optimism about the closed-loop cooling system but said broader questions remain. “It sounds good, and I want to believe the developers,” she said. “I do have some concerns. They want to have safeguards, but how do we know it’s true?” She has urged officials to research data center impacts in other communities before proceeding, adding: “We just want transparency and accountability with our officials.”

Whether the July 14 forum and the July 27 zoning vote together produce enough clarity for residents like Gingerich may determine how smoothly the project moves from plans to ground.