Olathe, Kansas — aerial view of the Kansas City metro area

Olathe, Kansas

Johnson County · Up to 500 MW · Central US Hub

A purpose-built greenfield AI data center campus in the heart of the US, combining massive power capacity, BNSF rail access, and one of the most competitive incentive packages in the Midwest.

Investment Overview

The Midwest's Premier
AI Data Center Opportunity

Spark AI Foundry's Olathe, Kansas campus represents a landmark opportunity to develop a world-class AI data center campus in the geographic center of the United States. Johnson County is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing counties in the Midwest, with a deep talent pool, mature infrastructure, and a business climate purpose-built for large-scale technology investment.

The site offers a phased development path from initial 40-acre entitlement through full campus build-out, delivering up to 500 MW of critical IT load capacity. BNSF rail adjacency, direct interstate access, and proximity to Kansas City International Airport make Olathe a strong logistics choice for mission-critical infrastructure.

With Kansas's competitive power rates, aggressive incentive programs, and low natural hazard risk, the Olathe campus is positioned to become the anchor AI infrastructure hub for the central US market.

500 MW
Total Power Capacity
160 Ac
Campus Footprint
2M+ SF
Buildable Area
Tier III
Target Certification
BNSF
Rail Access
<20ms
Latency to 4 Major Hubs

Site Advantages

Built for Hyperscale AI

Massive Power Capacity

Phased delivery up to 500 MW of critical power, one of the largest power envelopes available in the Midwest corridor.

Central US Location

Olathe sits at the geographic center of the US, minimizing network latency to both coasts and providing true redundancy for national deployments.

BNSF Rail Access

Direct adjacency to BNSF rail enables efficient delivery of heavy data center equipment and modular infrastructure components.

Fiber-Rich Corridor

Multiple carrier access with dark fiber availability, positioned on a major Midwest fiber route connecting Chicago, Dallas, and Denver.

Strong Incentive Package

Kansas PEAK Program, Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs), and Johnson County tax abatements provide a compelling economic development incentive stack.

Deep Talent Pool

Johnson County is home to a highly educated workforce. Proximity to University of Kansas, Kansas State, and JCCC provides a direct pipeline of technical talent.

Superior Logistics

Direct I-35 and K-7 corridor access, 20 minutes to KCI Airport, and central US positioning make Olathe ideal for mission-critical operations.

Low Natural Hazard Risk

Johnson County presents minimal risk from earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding, which is a key consideration for Tier III/IV data center siting.

Greenfield Flexibility

Purpose-built greenfield campus allows Spark AI Foundry to design optimal power density, cooling, and layout from the ground up.

Property Details

Full Specifications

CountyJohnson County, Kansas
Site Size~160 Acres (Phase 1: ~40 Acres)
Total BuildingsNew Construction, up to 2M+ Sq. Ft.
ZoningIndustrial / Mixed-Use Development
PowerUp to 500 MW (Phased Delivery)
FiberMultiple Carrier Access, Dark Fiber Available
Natural GasHigh-Pressure Gas Infrastructure On-Site
WaterMunicipal Water & Redundant Supply
RailBNSF Rail Access, Adjacent to Site
HighwayDirect I-35 & K-7 Corridor Access
Airport~20 min to Kansas City International Airport
IncentivesKansas PEAK Program, IRB, Tax Abatements Available

Market Context

Why Olathe, KS

Geographic Center of the US

Olathe's central US position delivers sub-20ms latency to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and St. Louis, making it well-suited for low-latency AI inference and national content delivery.

Explosive Data Center Demand

The Kansas City metro is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the US, driven by hyperscaler expansion, AI workloads, and enterprise cloud migration.

Competitive Power Costs

Kansas offers some of the lowest industrial power rates in the nation, with Evergy providing a stable, grid-connected supply and a clear path to renewable energy procurement.

Business-Friendly Environment

Kansas and Johnson County offer aggressive incentive programs including PEAK tax credits, IRBs, and sales tax exemptions on data center equipment purchases.

Skilled Workforce

Johnson County boasts one of the highest concentrations of college-educated residents in the Midwest, with strong representation in engineering, IT, and operations.

Infrastructure Maturity

Olathe benefits from decades of industrial development with mature utility infrastructure, robust road networks, and established logistics corridors.

Development Plan

Phased Campus Development

The Olathe campus follows Spark AI Foundry's EPCO framework (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Operations), executed in disciplined phases to manage risk and accelerate time-to-revenue.

Area Information

Demographics & Workforce

Population & Income

5 Mi10 Mi15 Mi
2024 Est. Population112,840398,200620,500
2029 Projected Population118,600421,000658,000
2024 Est. Avg. HH Income$128,400$122,700$118,900
Median Age36.237.137.8
Daytime Employment68,400248,000390,000

Source: US Census / ESRI Business Analyst, 2024 Estimates

Major Regional Employers

Garmin International
Sprint / T-Mobile
Black & Veatch
Cerner (Oracle Health)
Hallmark Cards
H&R Block
Burns & McDonnell
VinFast
Johnson County Government
Olathe USD 233
Evergy
BNSF Railway
University of Kansas Health
Honeywell FM&T
Embarq / CenturyLink
Layne Christensen
Kansas City Power & Light
Netsmart Technologies

Source: Johnson County Economic Development, 2024

Location

Regional Connectivity

Kansas City, MO
~22 miles
Chicago, IL
~500 miles
Dallas, TX
~490 miles
Denver, CO
~600 miles

Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas · Near I-35 & K-7 · ~22 miles SW of Kansas City, MO · ~20 min to KCI Airport

Investment Opportunity

Interested in the Olathe Campus?

Contact Spark AI Foundry to learn more about the Olathe, KS development opportunity, investment structure, and partnership details.