Investor Watch: April 28, 2025

Alexis Elmore highlights a new $2.8 billion computing center in Spartanburg, CyrusOne’s 14th data center in Texas and a copper mining JV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from China’s Tengyuan Cobalt Industry New Materials.

EASTERN EUROPE

A look at how low-tax jurisdictions perform in corporate project attraction.

ILLINOIS

Stellantis will reopen its Belvidere plant. The state continues to attract investments in the EV and clean energy sectors.

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Last month, Michelle Comerford, project director and industrial & supply chain practice lead at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co. (BLS & Co.), was elected chair of the Site Selectors Guild after being a member for 14 years. That’s almost as far back as her first contribution to Site Selection in 2008, in a special section about fast-tracking projects that begins with the line, “In a world of Blackberries, the Internet, and e-mail, the speed of business has vastly changed …” You can say that again, Michelle.

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With data centers projected to account for nearly 9% of total U.S. grid demand by 2030, a new white paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) “identifies steps states can take to improve the energy efficiency of AI data centers and avoid overinvesting in inefficient facilities,” the organization says. Authored by ACEEE Senior Director of Research Nora Wang Esram and Camron Assadi, “Future-Proof AI Data Centers, Grid Reliability and Affordable Energy: Recommendations for States” cites, among other observations, the recent energy-saving demonstration by DeepSeek before stating, “Analysts caution that overprovisioning AI hardware (e.g., installing more GPU servers than needed or using energy-inefficient designs) creates ‘tech debt’ that could leave operators with underutilized, depreciating equipment if better technology comes along.”

Churchill Downs Racetrack last year was named one of the “Best Venues” by Front Office Sports.
Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack

Many say the odds are stacked against journalism. But that’s not the case in Louisville, Kentucky, this week, where Journalism, a bay colt by Curlin out of Mopotism (by Uncle Mo), has emerged as an early favorite for this coming Saturday’s running of the 151st Kentucky Derby. Trained by Michael McCarthy, he earned a victory in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

In a sign that looming economic downturn even affects the first Saturday in May, Churchill Downs Inc., which unveiled a new $200 million paddock and luxury seating areas last year, last week said that it has paused multi-year projects to develop The Skye, Conservatory and Infield areas. “The decision to delay these construction projects,” the organization announced, “is due to the increasing uncertainty surrounding construction costs related to tariff and trade disputes as well as current macro-economic conditions.”

Will the economy dampen the urge to gamble? Last year, wagering from all sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program set a new record of $320.5 million.