Rather than leaning entirely on the local utility grid, AVAIO is planning a hybrid model that blends grid-delivered power with substantial on-site generation. That’s a strategic shift in the way next-gen digital infrastructure is being built in the U.S., as power availability becomes a gating factor in AI and high-performance compute deployment.
AVAIO has secured a 150-megawatt power contract with Entergy Arkansas to support the project’s first phase. As demand scales, the company expects to grow capacity toward the full gigawatt target. The location near major fiber routes connecting Dallas, Memphis, and Atlanta offers low-latency access to major interconnection hubs, while also extending coverage to emerging regional markets across the Southeast and Midwest.
The development includes a range of efficiency features such as rooftop solar, water-efficient cooling, and rainwater recapture systems. AVAIO has also planned for environmental integration, buffering data halls with existing forest and native landscaping to help align with the surrounding community. These site-level considerations are increasingly important as data center development expands into new regions and regulatory scrutiny grows.
The scale of the Leo Data Hub puts Arkansas into the conversation as a national player in the AI infrastructure race. Over multiple buildout phases, the total investment could top $21 billion. That’s expected to bring thousands of construction roles and over 500 long-term operational jobs to the state.
State leaders point to recent policy updates as a key reason the project landed in Arkansas. Permitting timelines for energy infrastructure have been streamlined, and targeted incentives for large-scale digital projects have helped the state compete for capital-intensive builds.
Agencies like the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Little Rock Regional Chamber have positioned the Leo Data Hub as a foundation for future tech-sector growth, not just a one-off deal. Alongside the tax base expansion, the project is expected to drive demand for skilled labor across electrical, mechanical, and IT operations.
For AVAIO, which is already building out a pipeline of hyperscale sites across North America and Europe, the Little Rock campus is a chance to pilot a new infrastructure model—one that sees power, land, and compute as an integrated planning challenge rather than separate phases. It’s a response to the shifting demands of AI, where infrastructure readiness is becoming a competitive differentiator.
