SOUTH BEND, Ind. — For months, opponents of a proposed data center in New Carlisle have argued that public sentiment in St. Joseph County is overwhelmingly against the project. Opponents have repeated a message claiming “no one wants this” in public hearings, letters to officials, and online discussion forums.
But what do the numbers actually say?
New polling data obtained by The Michiana Post shows that the public has a substantially more favorable view of recent economic development, including data centers, than opponents have asserted.
The survey, conducted among likely Republican primary voters, found that more than three quarters of respondents, or 77%, had heard “a lot” or “some” information about major development activity in St. Joseph County. Only about 6% said they had heard “nothing at all.” The findings suggest that voters are entering the discussion with a relatively high degree of awareness about proposed investment in western St. Joseph County.
When asked whether these projects have had a positive or negative effect on the county, 66% of respondents described the impact as either “somewhat positive” or “very positive.” Roughly 22% said they were neutral or had no opinion. About 12% said the impact had been somewhat or very negative.
These results differ sharply from the amplified tone of recent public meetings, where opposition to the New Carlisle data center has appeared dominant and has often been assumed to represent public opinion at large. Organized groups opposed to the project have attended meetings to cite what they claim are environmental risks, infrastructure concerns, and the loss of farmland. Their testimony has shaped the public narrative, though political analysts note that public hearing turnout typically reflects the most motivated participants rather than a representative sample of voters.
The Michiana Post received these polling results in response to our opinion article published on Dec. 2, 2025. You can view that article here.
As the project moves toward a vote by the St. Joseph County Council on Tuesday night, the polling provides another, and potentially more reliable, measure of public sentiment beyond the few voices heard at public meetings. The data indicates that countywide attitudes toward economic development are more supportive than opponents of the data center have claimed.
The Michiana Post will continue reporting as county officials evaluate next steps.