David Dobbins, who was identified as the Economic Development Director in a March 19, 2025, news release from the city, has been involved in discussions regarding West Jordan's industrial and redevelopment assets. In a report published on March 19, 2025, Dobbins provided context regarding the expansion of the NOVVA Data Center located just west of the Mountain View Corridor. According to that same March 19, 2025, report, Dobbins stated that "Data centers have high property values so they generate significant property tax revenue but have low demand for city services." He further explained that because data centers generate very few calls for services like police and fire, the presence of more data centers does not require more police officers and firefighters.
Beyond the data center sector, Dobbins has provided updates on city-owned land. In a Redevelopment Agency recap published on December 19, 2025, Dobbins provided an update on a 27-acre site owned by the Redevelopment Agency located at 5600 West 9000 South. According to the December 19, 2025, document, that specific site had not been actively marketed. While the report noted that potential interest had previously included car dealerships, car washes, and gas stations, the preference for the site was for a master-planned development to maximize value. The December 19, 2025, recap noted that while discussions had occurred with entities such as Peterson and Costco, no commitments had been made regarding the site's future.
During the December 19, 2025, meeting, board members engaged in discussions regarding various concepts for the 27-acre property. Ideas suggested included a mixed-use apartment complex, a farmers market, an amusement park, or a container park. The consensus reached during that meeting emphasized the importance of prioritizing a unique, long-term vision for the property over immediate sales or marketing. The board expressed an interest in exploring opportunities for master development before committing to specific uses or tenants.
As of the March 19, 2025, report, the expansion of the NOVVA campus was valued at $2 billion. The facility is expected to house 1 million square feet of space, though the report noted it can be operated by under 200 employees. The March 19, 2025, report highlighted that such industrial expansions are beneficial to the community because increased business revenue can lead to a better balance of the tax burden between residents and businesses. This occurs because higher property tax values from such facilities generate revenue without requiring a proportional increase in municipal services.
What this means for West Jordan
For West Jordan residents, the work of the Economic Development Director involves managing the city's tax base and land assets. By focusing on high-value industries like data centers and seeking master-planned developments for city-owned land, the city aims to increase tax revenue while minimizing the need for additional police and fire services.
