FLORENCE, Ariz. (September 9, 2025) – The Town of Florence is positioning itself as the next major player in Arizona’s fast-growing industrial corridor, introducing a sweeping plan to transform more than 1,500 acres of agricultural land into a technology and employment hub.
On September 4, Florence’s Planning and Zoning Commission introduced a major general plan amendment to allow development of an industrial technology park across the Dobson Farms master-planned community, which has remained undeveloped since its approval nearly 15 years ago.
The proposed amendment seeks to rezone the land for more intensive commercial and employment uses, paving the way for large-scale warehousing, automotive sales, and data centers.
EdgeCore’s 750-Acre Data Center Plan
One of the first potential users is EdgeCore, which is eyeing a 750-acre site for a major data center campus. The project envisions 332,100 square feet across 10 two-story buildings, each with a 72-megawatt power capacity and up to 50 employees per building.
EdgeCore already has a large campus underway in Mesa, which, when fully completed, will offer more than 450 megawatts of capacity across 3.1 million square feet. The proposed Florence facility would establish EdgeCore as one of the region’s largest data infrastructure developers.
Power, Location, and Infrastructure
The site sits adjacent to the Salt River Project’s Abel Substation, designated as a future power corridor, and falls within two growth areas in Florence’s general plan. Its location benefits from proximity to the Union Pacific and Copper Basin Railroad lines and the proposed ADOT North-South Corridor (SR 505)—a planned 55-mile highway linking Apache Junction to I-10 near Eloy through Queen Creek, Coolidge, and Florence.
According to the project narrative, “The Project will transform the existing agricultural land into a development that will enhance the community and generate industry and employment opportunities within this growing industrial area.”
The Florence site’s proximity to the Abel Substation is the anchor. SRP’s substation provides the backbone transmission infrastructure necessary to deliver hundreds of megawatts. By siting the campus directly adjacent, EdgeCore minimizes costly transmission extensions and ensures scalable power delivery.
Development Team
- Developer: Ryan Companies
- Engineer: CVL Consultants
- Landowner: Dobson Family Farms
The Florence initiative mirrors broader moves across metro Phoenix as communities position themselves for industrial growth.
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Buckeye is weighing an annexation plan to prepare 1,900 acres for a sprawling employment corridor.
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Peoria is moving forward with its Innovation Core, a newly acquired 834-acre site slated for advanced manufacturing and defense employers, including Amkor Technology’s relocated semiconductor packaging plant.
With strong rail access, emerging highway infrastructure, and growing power capacity, Florence’s 1,500-acre rezoning marks one of the most ambitious steps yet in Pinal County’s industrial transformation.