A new artificial intelligence data center announced this week by technology firm OrbiCore Solutions has been hailed by local officials as a “transformational economic investment,” promising hundreds of new jobs, long-term growth, and a future built on innovation. At the same time, company representatives acknowledged that the majority of those jobs will be automated before the facility officially opens.

The data center, currently under construction on 400 acres of formerly undeveloped land outside the township, is expected to house tens of thousands of servers dedicated to machine learning, predictive analytics, and what OrbiCore describes as “next-generation decision infrastructure.” Press materials emphasize the project’s role in revitalizing the local economy, particularly in a region that has seen manufacturing and logistics jobs steadily decline over the past decade.

“This is exactly the kind of forward-looking investment we’ve been hoping for,” said County Commissioner Harold Finch during a groundbreaking ceremony. “High-tech jobs, long-term stability, and a seat at the table of the modern economy.”

Finch did not address questions regarding the timeline for job creation.

Job Creation, Defined Broadly

Initial projections released by OrbiCore estimate the creation of approximately 250 jobs over the first five years of operation. Those figures include a combination of engineers, security staff, maintenance personnel, and administrative roles. Company officials clarified that the majority of these positions would exist primarily during the early operational phase.

“As systems mature, many roles will evolve,” said OrbiCore spokesperson Dana Kessler. “Our platform is designed to optimize workflows, including its own.”

When asked how many permanent on-site jobs would remain after optimization, Kessler said the company does not release specific staffing forecasts but emphasized that “efficiency is a form of opportunity.”

Local economic development officials framed the automation as a natural progression rather than a contradiction.

“These are still jobs,” said Development Authority Director Mark Ellison. “They’re just… very efficient jobs.”

Automation as a Selling Point

OrbiCore’s promotional materials highlight the data center’s ability to operate with minimal human oversight. Advanced monitoring systems will manage temperature, power usage, security, and system performance autonomously, reducing the need for on-site staff.

Company executives described this capability as both environmentally responsible and fiscally prudent.

“Human error is one of the biggest inefficiencies in legacy infrastructure,” said CEO Nathan Rowe during a virtual investor briefing. “Our system learns, adapts, and corrects itself without the friction of traditional labor models.”

Rowe added that the facility’s self-managing architecture would serve as a demonstration of OrbiCore’s core philosophy: that intelligence scales best when humans are removed from routine decision-making.

Community Response

Residents in nearby neighborhoods expressed cautious optimism, tempered by uncertainty about how the project would benefit the area beyond tax revenue.

“I’m glad something’s happening out there,” said longtime resident Carla Mendez. “But I don’t know anyone who works in artificial intelligence. Or knows what that even means.”

Others were more skeptical.

“They said the warehouse was going to bring jobs too,” said James Porter, referencing a logistics facility built nearby several years earlier. “Most of the jobs were temporary. The robots stayed.”

Porter said he attended the public information session hosted by OrbiCore but left with more questions than answers.

“They talked a lot about the future,” he said. “Just not ours.”

Environmental Tradeoffs

Construction of the data center required rezoning land previously designated as protected habitat. Environmental impact reports acknowledged disruption to local wildlife, including several species of birds and small mammals, but concluded that mitigation efforts would “offset long-term ecological effects.”

Those mitigation efforts include landscaped buffer zones, stormwater management systems, and what OrbiCore described as “environmentally conscious design principles.”

Critics argue the scale of the project undermines those claims.

“It’s a concrete facility the size of a small town,” said environmental advocate Lila Chen. “Calling it green because the servers are efficient is like calling a highway eco-friendly because the asphalt is recycled.”

Company representatives said the data center’s energy use would be partially offset through renewable energy credits purchased from regional providers.

Local Officials Remain Enthusiastic

Despite concerns, local officials continue to frame the project as a major win. Tax incentives approved by the county include abatements spanning more than a decade, justified by anticipated long-term economic growth.

“This is how you attract innovation,” said Commissioner Finch. “You invest now so future generations can benefit.”

When asked how future generations would benefit from a largely automated facility, Finch pointed to improved infrastructure, national visibility, and the possibility of secondary development.

“Once companies like this come in, others follow,” he said. “It creates momentum.”

So far, no additional companies have announced plans to follow.

Training for Jobs That Won’t Exist

As part of the agreement with the county, OrbiCore committed to funding workforce development initiatives aimed at preparing residents for high-tech employment. These programs include partnerships with local colleges, online certification courses, and what the company described as “AI literacy workshops.”

Program materials emphasize adaptability, lifelong learning, and “embracing technological change.”

Participants in early sessions said the training focused primarily on understanding how AI systems operate rather than how to work alongside them.

“They explained how the machines learn,” said one attendee who requested anonymity. “They didn’t explain where we fit in.”

OrbiCore officials said the goal of the training is to foster a mindset rather than guarantee employment.

“The future of work is about flexibility,” said Kessler. “Not everyone needs a job at the facility to benefit from it.”

Investors Applaud the Model

While local residents debated the project’s impact, investors responded positively. OrbiCore’s stock rose following the announcement, with analysts praising the company’s commitment to automation and cost control.

“This is exactly what the market wants to see,” said tech analyst Brian Lowell. “Scalable infrastructure, minimal labor exposure, and strong margins.”

Lowell described the job creation narrative as “a necessary component of public approval,” noting that automation-first projects often face resistance without assurances of economic benefit.

“It’s about framing,” he said. “The value is in the technology, not the payroll.”

The Quiet Shift

As construction continues, signage along the project perimeter touts innovation, opportunity, and progress. Job fairs advertised early in the planning phase have been quietly scaled back, replaced by online information sessions focusing on future possibilities.

Residents driving past the site say it already feels disconnected from the surrounding community.

“It’s like it’s not really for us,” said Mendez. “It’s just here.”

OrbiCore maintains that the data center represents a necessary evolution, one that communities must adapt to rather than resist.

“Change is uncomfortable,” Rowe said. “But it’s also inevitable.”

For now, the facility stands as a symbol of modern economic development: promising growth, delivering efficiency, and redefining the meaning of opportunity in ways that remain difficult to explain, but easy to automate.