What Happened

A packed meeting in Marshall drew at least 30 residents who demanded more transparency and dialogue from city leaders about a proposed data center and gas generation plant inside Brooks Industrial Park.

The proposal, announced by developer Alterra Development, has sent shockwaves through the small community. While city officials say the project is still in its early stages, residents feel blindsided by the sudden announcement and are calling for more communication before any decisions are finalized.

The Proposal

Alterra Development has entered into a purchase agreement with the City of Marshall for 270 acres of land inside Brooks Industrial Park. The agreement, approved unanimously by the Local Development Finance Authority on October 30, includes 112 buildable acres for a proposed technology park.

The developer claims the project represents a minimum investment of $10-$15 billion, with final costs dependent on wetland mitigation requirements, power availability, and buildable space. Alterra plans to create a fully permitted, shovel-ready site with validated design for 1 gigawatt of onsite power generation and a 1.5 gigawatt technology park.

The project aims to employ 300 to 500 full-time jobs paying between $78,000 and $180,000 annually. Positions would include electricians, fiber technicians, software engineers and IT jobs. Training pipelines will be implemented through local schools and colleges.

The project is projected to generate millions in annual property tax revenue for schools and city services. It will also create new tax increment financing capture to support LDFA projects through 2046. A $3 million community investment fund for STEM education and fiber-to-school initiatives would be established.

The Meeting

Board Chair Mike Beck acknowledged the room was packed and offered additional seating. He warned residents that the likely reason for being there was not on the official agenda, but they could use their three minutes during public comment to speak on any topic.

"It is our biggest meeting ever, I can just tell you that," Beck said.

Among those gathered, all who chose to speak addressed the topic of the proposed data center and gas plant, with many calls for greater transparency and communication.

"We just feel a little blindsided," one speaker said. "It is not that we are not plugged in, we just were not aware."

"Most of us only heard about it a couple days ago," another resident said. "I am sure if we had some notice, we would probably be packed out the door."

City Response

According to board officials, while the Local Development Finance Authority did enter into a purchase agreement, that only allowed them to begin a very lengthy due diligence process to analyze the feasibility for a data center on the property, including wetland mitigation studies.

The board chair offered reassurance that the process is lengthy, lasting up to a year. He said that if the developer feels that some semblance of a project is feasible, they will still have to go through a very public site and project plan review, as well as various agencies to be able to make that project come to fruition.

Despite assurances from city leaders that the project is still in its early stages and nothing is finalized, residents are demanding more transparency and dialogue.

Development Background

Alterra Development founder James Jarvis said his company will use wetland mitigation and land consolidation to create developable property.

"Our approach will be one that honors and keeps the integrity of what Brooks Industrial Park and Brooks Nature Park represented initially," Jarvis said at the October 30 meeting.

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The company said it has already held early meetings with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy on wetland mitigation. Construction will not take place until due diligence is complete, which Alterra expects to finish by the third quarter of 2026.

Water Concerns

LDFA officials raised concerns about the project's water usage. However, the developer said it plans to use a closed-loop liquid cooling system that recirculates water indefinitely, meaning there will be no ongoing draw from the city's water supply.

The 270-acre land sale was approved for $1.12 million, which includes a $50,000 deposit and an 180-day due diligence period, with an option to extend for additional $10,000 payments.

During the due diligence period, the developer will investigate the property, including electrical studies and wetland mitigation framework with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

If the developer abandons the project, the $50,000 deposit will be returned; however, the extension payments will go to the LDFA.

Community Impact

Marshall Mayor Scott Wolfersberger says the new data center proposal could bring billions in investment to the area.

"That has been the case Marshall has been in for the last three decades probably where we have lost industry," Wolfersberger said. "We lost Eaton, we lost State Farm, we have lost Campbell Soup."

The city has been zoned for industrial use for nearly 60 years, with the city having built infrastructure for a number of businesses already.

"We are hoping that at some point we can get some return on that investment for the taxpayers of Marshall," he said.

Timeline

The full presentation can be viewed on the city of Marshall's YouTube page. The developer expects to complete due diligence by the third quarter of 2026, with construction not beginning until after these steps are finished.

Sources

  • https://wwmt.com/news/local/biggest-meeting-data-center-development-concern-marshall-meeting-michigan-alterra-gas-generation-plant-brooks-industrial-park-wetland-environment-conservation-wwmt
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2025/12/marshall-approves-112m-land-sale-for-data-center-gas-plant-project.html
  • https://wwmt.com/news/local/data-center-gas-generation-plant-proposed-in-marshall-alterra-development-calhoun-county-energy-electricity-water
  • https://wwmt.com/news/local/marshall-data-center-proposal-stuart-lake-brooks-nature-area-gas-generation-plant-energy-scott-wolfersberger-calhoun-county-west-michigan