This item is preserved as part of MPA’s advocacy archive. It was originally distributed as a Be Heard alert ahead of the June 17, 2025 Pima County Board of Supervisors hearing.
Project Blue was presented as a proposed data center campus within the Southeast Employment & Logistics Center, representing more than $3.6 billion in planned capital investment and a significant expansion of energy and reclaimed-water infrastructure in southeast Tucson.
Project overview
The proposed campus was located on approximately 290 acres immediately north of the Pima County Fairgrounds in an area planned for employment and industrial uses. At the time of the alert, the current phase could support four data center buildings, while the full site could potentially accommodate up to ten. The first building was projected to be capable of operating as early as 2027.
Potential economic impact
An economic impact study cited in the Be Heard alert estimated the following benefits for the project’s current phase:
More than $3.6 billion in planned capital investment over a multi-year construction period.
Approximately $250 million in total tax revenue over ten years, including an estimated $97 million to the City of Tucson, $60 million to Pima County and $93 million to the State of Arizona.
Approximately 180 permanent, full-time on-site jobs by the third year of operations, including engineering, technical, operations and security roles.
Approximately 3,000 direct construction jobs during the anticipated 2026–2028 construction period.
Water and infrastructure commitments
The project team also outlined a water stewardship strategy built around replenishment, on-site efficiency and reclaimed-water infrastructure.
Water replenishment: The project committed to funding local water projects intended to meet or exceed its consumptive water losses.
On-site efficiency: The proposed cooling approach was designed to reduce water use by relying on outside air during cooler periods when conditions allow.
Reclaimed-water infrastructure: Project Blue proposed funding an approximately 18-mile reclaimed-water pipeline extension and a new 30-acre aquifer recharge facility.
Why Be Heard shared the project
The Be Heard coalition shared the rezoning case as an example of a large-scale public-private development proposal that could diversify the regional tax base while funding infrastructure intended to serve broader growth in southeast Tucson. The original alert encouraged members of the development community to participate in the public hearing and submit comments before the applicable deadlines.