09/21/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement from Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis Shared at Today’s Bradley County Commission
I want to take a few minutes to inform this commission and the public about some concerning developments that have occurred over the past several days regarding data center development in Bradley County. My office was contacted late last Friday afternoon and made aware of a proposed data center development known as “Project Midspan”, along with a lawsuit filed by a company in New York challenging the data center regulations adopted by the Bradley County Commission earlier this year.
This was the same day the developers announced a “pause” for Project River!
Project Midspan is proposing a data center campus on approximately 306 acres located on property directly behind Walker Valley High School. According to information provided by the project, the nearest proposed building would be only approximately 1,700 feet from Walker Valley High School.
The developer has also filed a lawsuit challenging the county’s April zoning action and is asking the court to declare those regulations invalid!
That matters because earlier this year, we heard from our community about large-scale data centers.
The message was clear. People had serious concerns about where these facilities could be built and what they could mean for homes, schools, churches, and surrounding communities. Bradley County listened.
The county commission adopted regulations establishing where data centers could locate in unincorporated Bradley County and requiring a 3,000-foot setback from residential areas, schools, and churches. Now those regulations are being challenged in court.
We didn’t adopt these regulations by accident. We adopted them because this community asked its county government to establish protections for large-scale data center development.
Over the last several weeks, there has been tremendous public attention surrounding data centers in Bradley County. People have attended meetings, asked questions, organized, and made their voices heard.
I want those citizens to understand that there is now another data center issue that deserves their attention, and this one directly involves Bradley County and the regulations your county commission put in place.
I encourage our citizens to learn about Project Midspan, understand this lawsuit, and pay attention as this case moves forward.
I ask you to support Bradley County as we defend the regulations adopted by your elected representatives. This will not be inexpensive. Defending the county in litigation of this magnitude could require substantial taxpayer resources. I don’t take that lightly.
We listened to our citizens. We acted. And now that action is being challenged. Bradley County will defend its position and the regulations adopted by your county commission.
Just as importantly, we are going to make sure our citizens have access to the information we have. Below, I have linked documents provided to Bradley County on Friday, September 18th by Project Midspan and its developers so you can read them for yourself, understand what is being proposed, and follow this issue as it develops.
Project Midspan Site Plan -https://bradleycountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MidSpan-Site-Plan.pdf
Email and Developer FAQ -https://bradleycountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Project-MidSpan.pdf
This is new information for us as well, and there will undoubtedly be more to learn and more questions to answer. As those answers become available, we will share what we can and keep you informed.
I do need to make one important distinction. Because a lawsuit has now been filed and this matter is pending before the court, I will not be allowed to discuss the county’s legal strategy, respond publicly to specific allegations in the lawsuit, or debate the merits of the case publicly on social media. That would not be responsible while litigation is pending. Our attorneys will address those issues through the proper legal process.
This is your county. These are your regulations. And when they are challenged, you deserve to know about it. As I am allowed, I will do my best to keep you informed along the way. We will fight on behalf of Bradley County. Thank you.
