Data centers in Jefferson County, Missouri: 1 project mapped

Imagery: Esri, Maxar

CRG, the data center arm of St. Louis builder Clayco, has city approval for a $6 billion data center on about 360 acres north of Highway 67 and west of Highway CC in Festus, but as of June 2026 it had filed no plans or permit requests. No company has been named to run it. The opposition group Wake Up Jeffco and neighbors on Glenkee Court have a lawsuit pending in St. Louis County Circuit Court to stop the project; the defendants have moved to dismiss it.

The Festus City Council annexed and rezoned the land unanimously in November 2025, and on March 30, 2026 voted 6-2 for a development agreement requiring CRG to pay for water, sewer and street upgrades and pay the city $3 million a year for five years, then $5 million a year for five more. Emails released under the Sunshine Law showed council members had met CRG in small groups to avoid a quorum. "I'm against putting data centers between homes," said Lauren Albers, who lives three houses from homes CRG offered to buy.

On April 7 voters replaced four incumbents with candidates who opposed the project. Clayco founder Bob Clark said the approval gave CRG "vested rights" and he hoped to finish in 2028. Residents gathered recall petitions against Mayor Sam Richards and three council members who backed the project, but the council rejected them 4-3 on June 8. "Nobody's backing down," said opponent Lori Merriman.

Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.