Building upon the success of nearby Golden Plains Technology Park, Diode Ventures advanced Kansas City market’s data center landscape through the rezoning and incentive structuring for Rocky Branch Creek Technology Park. Spanning nearly 500 acres in Kansas City’s Northland, the site was sold to a major technology company who plans to build out hyperscale facilities totaling 1.5 million square feet with phase one of construction slated to begin in 2025.

The Challenge: Extend Kansas City’s Reputation as a Data Center Hub

In the early 2020s, the Kansas City region lagged other areas of the country with regard to a pipeline of hyperscale data center development. Diode Ventures sought to change that with its development of two adjacent projects in order to create a lucrative cluster of data center development aimed at driving interest in the Kansas City market.    

The Solution: Create an Opportunity for One of Kansas City’s Most Significant Technology Investments

With nearby planned data center development underway, access to power, infrastructure and a skilled workforce as well as a supportive community environment, Diode Ventures identified and secured nearly 500 acres in Kansas City’s Northland, creating the foundation for what would become Rocky Branch Creek Technology Park. Diode managed the processes of rezoning to a Master Planned District, permitting, utility coordination and incentive structuring to prepare the property for hyperscale development.  

In late 2023, a major technology company acquired the site, advancing plans for a 1.56 million-square-foot campus with five hyperscale buildings. Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with the first 208,000-square-foot facility scheduled for completion within 18 months of groundbreaking. The development is planned to offer as much as 700 MW of power from a nearby power station as well as onsite substations.

Diode helped structure one of the largest economic development incentive packages in the region’s history to not only ensure affordability for the project but also predictable revenues for local jurisdictions.  

Beyond infrastructure, the project delivers direct community investment. Funds generated from the development support local education initiatives, including a $1.5 million payment to the Smithville School District’s workforce development program as well as contributions to a new career center to prepare Kansas City students for technology-driven careers. By linking a world-class hyperscale development with long-term workforce development, the project strengthens Kansas City’s position as a competitive hub for digital growth.

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