LANCASTER, PA — The Lancaster AI Hub has reported more than $80 million already flowing into the local economy, with the majority of contracts and labor sourced directly from Lancaster County and surrounding communities.
The initiative, led by Chirisa Technology Parks and Machine Investment Group, is redeveloping vacant industrial buildings into state-of-the-art data centers to power artificial intelligence tools and services. The project is designed to create local jobs across a wide range of skill levels while maintaining a focus on sustainability and community impact.
According to the latest data, 77% of subcontracted dollars have gone to regional businesses, nearly 90% of labor has been local, and about 60% of contracts have been awarded to small or disadvantaged businesses.
Construction-related job creation, initially estimated at 600 positions, has now been revised to between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs.
“We are committed to ensuring that Lancaster and the broader region directly benefit from this transformative investment,” said David Kelly, Managing Director North America at Chirisa Technology Parks. “The Lancaster AI Hub is a more than $10 billion investment that will generate construction, technical, and skilled trade jobs in the near term. In the long run, it will fuel regional economic growth by creating local jobs for people of all educational backgrounds, attracting new talent to the area, supporting small businesses, and strengthening local supply chains.”
Wohlsen Construction Company, headquartered in Lancaster, is leading construction. “Wohlsen is delighted to be engaged in this innovative redevelopment project that is going to deliver long-term benefits for Lancaster,” said Vice President Jeff Sturla.
Local leaders emphasized the project’s potential ripple effects. “An AI hub in Lancaster could create opportunities that extend far beyond the project itself and serve as a catalyst for additional investment and local business growth,” said Ezra Rothman, President of EDC Lancaster County.
CoreWeave, a leading AI cloud provider, has invested in the hub and will lease the facility as part of its growing global network of AI data centers. Financing for the development is supported by funds managed by Blue Owl Capital alongside Chirisa Technology Parks and Machine Investment Group.
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