Golden Plains Technology Park is the first hyperscale data center project in the Kansas City market. Taking advantage of a greenfield site with abundant access to power, fiber and water, a strong pool of talent for construction and operations, and the state of Missouri’s passage of data center incentives, Diode led the process of rezoning its 882 acres to allow for hyperscale development. Diode’s work also led to a competitive incentive package designed to attract top technology companies while creating a positive economic impact for the community.  

The challenge: Introduce hyperscale data center development to a new market

When Diode Ventures set out to develop Golden Plains Technology Park in Kansas City, there were no hyperscale data centers in the region—nor zoning or incentives roadmaps to support one. The 882-acre greenfield site, originally zoned for low-density residential use, spanned two counties and three school districts. Recognizing Kansas City's potential as an up-and-coming data center market, Diode navigated a complex rezoning and incentives process to make the site viable for large-scale infrastructure.

The solution: Deliver significant community benefits to put Kansas City on the data center map

In partnership with City of Kansas City, Missouri, planners, elected officials and key stakeholders, Diode successfully rezoned the site in 2020, thus creating a precedent for large-scale data center development within an Urban Redevelopment District. Diode hosted public meetings, met with community groups and addressed concerns about environmental and traffic impacts, future land use and fiber infrastructure.  

To support the project, Diode secured a Chapter 100 bond package that could provide up to $8.2 billion in incentives over 37 years. The project also qualified as an Urban Redevelopment District, unlocking further economic development tools. Diode also structured fixed annual payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), a conditional agreement once the development occurs which could generate as much as $1.8 billion to support community projects for schools and other government entities. Diode coordinated with utility companies  Evergy and KC Water to deliver needed infrastructure, and Diode helped to fund road improvements along a nearby church access route, signaling a tangible example of community collaboration. The site was designed to support up to 750MW of data center capacity, with access to key regional fiber and telecom routes.

Diode helped to unlock new potential in Kansas City, and hyperscalers took notice. Given the complexity of the site across county lines and school districts, Diode structured the site into three zones. Meta purchased all three zones between 2020 and 2022 and announced a billion-dollar investment in a 1-million-square-foot building that opened in August 2025. Since Meta’s announcement, two other hyperscale developments have been announced for the region thereby elevating Kansas City as a regional data center hub led by Diode’s entrepreneurial development.  

Upon selling Golden Plains Technology Park to Meta, Diode continued to work with the technology company to follow through on project details and community benefit agreements. As promised, Meta brought 1,300+ construction jobs and plans to employ nearly 100 permanent employees to operate the facility. Meta continues to be a strong community partner, providing Community Action Grants for STEAM projects and sponsoring significant community organizations and events. PILOT funding generated from the project is also helping to pay for a variety of community benefits, including the largest teacher salary increases in one school district’s history and providing tens of millions of dollars toward construction of a new community career center.

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