Happy Monday, Northern Virginia!

In this week’s update:

💻 What’s really powering Virginia’s construction boom? Turns out, it’s not housing or highways, it’s something much bigger. 54 massive data centers are in the works this year alone, and one tech giant is quietly behind more than half of them.

📈 Fairfax just landed a $46.9M national security expansion, and 700+ new jobs are coming with it. But what sealed the deal? And why does this put Northern Virginia back in the national spotlight?

🏗️ Something big just broke ground in Herndon... A 307,000-square-foot facility. 48 megawatts of IT power. And a national push that could reshape cloud and AI infrastructure across the U.S.

💻 Northern Virginia Is Becoming the Cloud’s Command Center

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Driving the news: Virginia is in the midst of its largest-ever data center growth spurt, with 54 new facilities planned in just the first nine months of 2025, and Amazon is leading the charge.

Details:

Business Insider tallied 54 new data center permits filed across the state so far in 2025, a 16% jump from last year.
Amazon accounted for more than half of them, with 28 massive centers added to its national footprint.
Most of these new facilities fall into the “hyperscale” category, consuming over 40 megawatts of power each, comparable to a small city.
Virginia’s total number of built or in-construction data centers now stands at 383.

Why it matters: This scale of investment means more local jobs, long-term tax revenue, and expanded infrastructure.

For many communities, it’s an economic boost, even as debates grow over energy use and land development.

The big picture: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are pouring billions into AI-related infrastructure.

Data centers are the backbone of that effort. In June, U.S. construction spending on them hit a record $40 billion.

By the numbers: Amazon is expected to operate 205 data centers across the country once its latest batch in Virginia is complete.

Business Insider estimates that, if all the data centers in Virginia go online, they could consume up to 106.4 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, more than the entire state of Tennessee used in 2023.

Meanwhile, combined spending from Big Tech companies on AI infrastructure is projected to hit $320 billion this year.

The bottom line: Virginia's data center surge is real, and it's reshaping both the economy and the environment. Amazon is steering that growth, and its ripple effects are only getting bigger.

Don’t stop now! KEEP READING→

📈 SPA Doubles Down on NoVa with
$46.9M Investment

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Driving the news: Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA) is investing $46.9 million to expand its national security operations in Northern Virginia, adding over 1,200 jobs across the region, with 714 coming to Fairfax County.

Details:

SPA’s Fairfax County expansion will focus on scaling operations at its Chantilly location while scouting additional sites.
The firm’s headquarters in Alexandria will also grow, adding 494 jobs.
Virginia secured the project over competing states with support from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund and workforce training via the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Why it matters: SPA’s presence reaffirms Northern Virginia as a go-to destination for national security innovation, backed by a skilled workforce, defense infrastructure, and proven public-private cooperation.

It also strengthens Fairfax County’s status as a national security anchor, bringing high-paying, mission-driven jobs that directly support national defense.

What’s next: SPA will begin immediate hiring and facility upgrades in Chantilly, with long-term growth plans for additional offices to accommodate their expanding workforce.

Curious? SEE ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROJECT→

🎥 This Northern Virginia Town is Booming in 2026 (Fredericksburg)

Thinking about moving to Northern Virginia? In this video, we'll highlight everything about Fredericksburg. One of the many towns in NoVA that is absolutely booming in 2026!

Watch the video!

💬 Let’s Connect: Buying, Selling, or Growing Your Brand in Northern Virginia?

Whether you’re looking to move to Fairfax, Prince William, Winchester, Alexandria, Arlington, or Reston — or want help growing your business with smart, local content — I’ve got you covered.

📍 Explore homes for sale across Northern Virginia
📲 DM me on Instagram for real estate or content marketing help
💼 Visit ColganTeam.com to learn more or collaborate on your next project

🏗️ Menlo Digital Breaks Ground in
Herndon for 48MW Data Center

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Driving the news: Menlo Digital, the data center arm of Menlo Equities, has officially started construction on a 307,000-square-foot data center in Herndon, Virginia.

The new MD-DC1 facility will provide 48MW of critical IT capacity and is expected to be completed by summer 2026.

Details:

The two-story center will feature four 12MW data halls.
It’s powered by 67MW of utility energy from Dominion Energy’s Lincoln Park Substation, active since December 2024.
Clune Construction is leading the build as General Contractor.
MD-DC1 sits on a 9-acre site.

Why it matters: Herndon continues to draw top-tier digital infrastructure investments, reinforcing Northern Virginia’s status as the heart of U.S. data traffic.

This build will support the next wave of cloud and AI computing while bringing construction and tech jobs to the area.

The big picture: MD-DC1 is just one part of Menlo Digital’s national 1.8GW development pipeline spanning key markets like Phoenix, Silicon Valley, Dallas, and Chicago.

The company is doubling down on high-capacity, power-dense facilities tailored for cloud and AI-heavy workloads.

Between the lines: Menlo’s broader strategy hinges on speed-to-market and aligning its builds with enterprise and hyperscaler demand for sustainable, high-performance infrastructure.

What’s next: Expect leasing announcements and tenant reveals in 2026 as delivery nears. Interested parties are already invited to contact the Menlo team for site details.

KNOW MORE→

📊 Our Current Local Market Numbers

Washington, DC’s housing market is somewhat competitive. Homes average 2 offers and spend around 66 days on the market. The median home price sits near $660K, up 4.8% year-over-year, with most selling at 97.8% of list price.

For Buyers: Competition is moderate, giving you some room to negotiate. Watch for slight price dips and be ready when homes match your criteria—well-priced listings still move fast.

For Sellers: Rising prices and steady demand work in your favor. Pricing strategically and presenting your home well can help you attract multiple offers, even as market pace cools slightly.