A Strategic Leap Forward
Gaffney, South Carolina, known more for peaches and pace than processors, is about to host one of the largest digital infrastructures in the Southeastern United States.
Cielo Digital Infrastructure, a relatively new player in the hyperscale site development arena, has announced a transformative USD2.1 billion investment to build a massive data center campus in Cherokee County. The announcement was made public on June 24, 2025, marking the company’s largest initiative to date and solidifying its evolving role as a serious contender in the data infrastructure space.
According to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, the development is expected to be a game-changer for both the region and the broader digital economy.
“This investment by Cielo Digital Infrastructure marks the largest capital investment in Cherokee County history and reflects the growing demand for scalable, sustainable digital infrastructure in the Southeast,” he said in a press release.
What exactly is Cielo building?
The proposed campus will cover 86 acres of land off Ford Road in Gaffney. It will host four facilities, each approximately 400,000 square feet, together totalling more than 1.6 million square feet in space. The buildings are designed for high-density workloads with efficient energy supply, catering to the growing demand for AI and cloud-related compute.
The site is engineered to house up to 300 megawatts of IT load and is tailored to attract major cloud service providers and AI-focused tenants.
“Cielo is excited to bring our newest project to Gaffney. We look forward to advancing on a site that we think offers connectivity and critical energy access to support data center development. Cherokee County and the State of South Carolina have been superb to work with while creating an environment welcoming to growth in key areas, such as technology infrastructure,” said C.J. Maier, Senior Vice President at Cielo Digital Infrastructure
A dedicated on-site electrical substation will support the facility’s power infrastructure, ensuring the scale and reliability required for next-generation digital operations.
The construction is expected to begin in the upcoming months, with initial operations projected to go live by late 2028.
The South Carolina Advantage
For Cielo, moving into South Carolina is no coincidence; it’s a strategic decision aligned with the industry’s quiet but accelerating shift away from congested, high-cost digital hubs.
As digital infrastructure expands, the focus is shifting away from crowded, high-cost hubs like Northern Virginia and overregulated states like California. South Carolina, on the other hand, is open, responsive, and ready.
The state offers more than just space. It combines a supportive regulatory climate with expanding access to renewable energy, all while attracting hyperscalers seeking to scale East Coast expansion without the bottlenecks.
It also offers a more reliable power supply, affordable and available land, faster permitting, and regional leadership committed to innovation.
Governor, South Carolina, Henry McMaster, said, “Cielo Digital Infrastructure’s decision to invest $2.1 billion and create 30 new jobs in Cherokee County reinforces South Carolina’s reputation as a place where top technology companies can thrive. We are proud that high-tech companies like Cielo continue to see the value in our talented workforce and pro-business climate.”
Cherokee County checks all the right boxes to be an ideal partner. Its proximity to cities like Charlotte and Atlanta in the U.S ensures access to a skilled workforce and strong connectivity.
For Cielo, Gaffney wasn't just a choice; it was the right move at the right time.
From Site Developer to Infrastructure Builder
Founded in 2023 and backed by Arroyo Energy Investors, Cielo Digital Infrastructure has quickly carved out a niche in large-scale site development for digital infrastructure. The company made headlines in 2024 by selling a 1.4 million square feet campus in Culpeper, Virginia, to EdgeCore, a Colorado data center developer, demonstrating its ability to deliver strategically located, power-ready sites with clean zoning and robust utility access.
The South Carolina project, however, marks a potential strategic shift. Rather than selling the site post-entitlement, Cielo appears positioned to see the development through, either independently or via future joint ventures. It’s a strong signal that the firm is evolving from a pure-play land developer to a full-scale infrastructure builder.
“Cielo Digital Infrastructure’s $2.1 billion investment marks a transformative moment for Cherokee County. This project not only brings cutting-edge technology to our region but also creates high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth. We are proud to welcome Cielo and look forward to a strong partnership that benefits our community for generations to come,” said Cherokee County Council Chairman Tim Spencer
Looking Ahead
With operations expected by 2028 and the strong support of state and local officials, Cielo's Gaffney campus could become a key node in the future of AI and cloud computing in the Southeast. As power-hungry technologies continue to strain traditional urban infrastructure, rural yet well-connected regions like Cherokee County are rapidly emerging as the next frontier.
Cielo Digital Infrastructure has just placed a major bet on that future, and all eyes are now on Gaffney.
It could establish the company not just as a land scout, but as a serious builder of next-generation digital capacity in underserved markets.
