Caddo Commissoner Shares Data Center Thoughts

Caddo Parish Commissioner Grace Anne Blake told KEEL News on Friday that the conversation around a proposed Shreveport data centershould stay focused on facts, infrastructure, and long term impact, not rumors.

Blake emphasized that major projects often come with confidentiality rules early on, and she urged residents to separate normal business process from distrust.

A “Missed Boat” Moment for Shreveport

Blake framed the data center proposal as a bigger question about momentum in Caddo Parish. She said Shreveport has watched opportunities pass by before, and she does not want hesitation or mixed messaging to become the reason another major investment lands somewhere else.

Her view is that the region has to decide if it wants to compete for large scale development or keep getting beat to the punch.

NDAs, Transparency, and What Caddo Officials Actually Know

Non disclosure agreements have been a sticking point for some residents who feel shut out of the process. Blake said she has not signed an NDA and, because of that, she does not know the company’s name.

READ MORE: Public Service Commissioner Assures Rates Won't Rise Due to Data Center

She described NDAs as common in business discussions, especially when companies are evaluating multiple sites and do not want premature details to affect negotiations, land prices, or competitor response.

She also stressed that officials should be careful about repeating partial information. Her message was simple: if you do not have verified details, do not present guesses as if they are settled facts.

Location Chatter and the George Carver School Property

Blake also pushed back on talk about placing a data center at the George Carver School property, a location many locals recognize by its school site history. She said the infrastructure needed for a modern data center is not in place there, and she criticized the idea of floating locations that the company is not actively pursuing.

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Blake’s broader point was about consistency. She questioned why an already industrial friendly area would be criticized while other options are discussed as if they are easier or cleaner, even though they may require new planning and investment to get to the same readiness.

Power, Water, and the Concerns Caddo Residents Keep Asking

Data centers raise real questions about electric demand, water use, and utility rates. Blake said the community is watching what has happened in other towns and believes planning here can account for those pressures.

She acknowledged that construction can be disruptive, yet she suggested the finished facility could be relatively low profile compared to other industrial operations.