Mayor Matthew Crowe Updates Public on Menomonie Data Center Project

City of Menomonie progresses with I-4 Zoning. The City of Menomonie plans to have a draft of this I-4 ordinance introduced at the August 3rd, 2026, City Council Meeting. There will be no vote on the I-4 zoning ordinance at this meeting.

Menomonie Mayor Matthew Crowe’s press release provides residents with an update: “The Mayor wants to provide the public with an update on the proposed data center project to ensure communication between the City of Menomonie and the public is steady and frequent.”

“The City of Menomonie has been working diligently on this I-4 zoning to ensure that it is done correctly. The city thanks the public for all their input in this process to build this I-4 zoning ordinance.” Explained Mayor Matthew Crowe in the press release dated June 25, 2026.

Over a year ago, Menomonie rose up and took a firm stand against big tech!

A $1.6 billion data center campus was proposed for Menomonie, WI, by the developer Balloonist LLC (a shell company for big tech). Though initially approved for annexation and rezoning, the project was placed on an indefinite hold following intense grassroots opposition and sweeping zoning changes passed by the City.

Read the full press release below

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Mayor Matthew Crowe Public Statement, Data Center Ordinance Update [June 30, 2026] Hello to all in Menomonie and the surrounding area,
I want to provide the public with an update on the proposed data center project to ensure communication between the City of Menomonie and the public is steady and frequent. For context, in July of 2025, Balloonist LLC applied for annexation of county lands and the rezoning of the land to Industrial (I-1) for a possible proposed data center. On July 28, 2025, the Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval to the City Council. On August 4, 2025, the vote passed through the city council with an 8-3 majority. In mid-September of 2025, the negotiations of a Tax Increment District (TID) were put on pause by the city administration. This paused negotiations for tax incentives; however, this did not pause or stop the project. Days later, Balloonist LLC purchased the land in accordance with its agreements with the former landowners. After receiving feedback from the public and reviewing broader data center developments, it became clear that the City’s definitions of a warehouse and the I-1 zoning did not adequately address the risks associated with data center development.

The City of Menomonie amended its industrial zoning regulations regarding data centers. The Industrial I-4 zoning for data centers was approved by the council in January of 2026. The current I-4 zoning requirements for data centers include building heights and setbacks. After a public comment period, the City of Menomonie used that information to build on the I-4 ordinance to include items such as; light and noise pollution, water usage, further setbacks for equipment, landscaping, reclamation, and more. The City of Menomonie has been working diligently on this I-4 zoning to ensure that it is done correctly. We thank you all for your input in this process to build this I-4 zoning ordinance. This ordinance is important in that we cannot legally ban certain industries. Though we can’t legally add certain items in this ordinance that are requested, we hope that we can build a finished product together that you the community can be proud of.

The City of Menomonie plans to have a draft of this I-4 ordinance introduced at the August 3rd, 2026, City Council Meeting. There will be no vote on the I-4 zoning ordinance at this meeting. I will read it in its entirety to the council and the public. The ordinance amendment will be included on the city council agenda, and it will be available to the public before the meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Additionally, I will post this to my social media accounts as will the City on their pages and website. The City Administration hopes for a strong public turnout for that meeting and will strive to improve the ordinance amendment by incorporating community input.

Once the I-4 ordinance is complete, the City Council can formally refer it to the Plan Commission for its review. After the Plan Commission conducts its review, the I-4 zoning amendment will be brought back to the City Council for adoption. Once the ordinance is adopted, Balloonist LLC will have the legal opportunity to apply for rezoning of their property to I-4 zoning, should they decide to do so. The timeline for possible rezoning of the property will depend on whether and when Balloonist LLC submits an application.

I want to inform the public that in the last several weeks, Balloonist, LLC, has reached out to city staff and requested a meeting with me on two separate occasions. I have respectfully declined to meet with them. I have declined the meeting to avoid being unduly influenced regarding the project before the I-4 zoning amendment is approved by the City Council. At the time of this press release, Balloonist, LLC has not reached out to me directly, nor has any other entity regarding potential data center developments.
For clarification, it should be understood that Balloonist, LLC is a corporate citizen of the City of Menomonie. With that information in mind, the City of Menomonie is obligated to respond to inquiries from Balloonist, LLC.
As the Mayor of the City of Menomonie, I’m committed to keeping the public informed about this process and welcome your feedback and your attendance at City Council meetings. Thank you for having the confidence in me to share your thoughts and concerns.

Sincerely,
Matthew Crowe
Mayor, City of Menomonie, WI
800 Wilson Avenue
Menomonie, WI 54751
715-440-9275
mcrowe@menomonie-wi.gov
Media inquiries and requests for comment should be directed to communications@menomonie-wi.gov. Inquiries will be reviewed and coordinated with the appropriate City representative.

Rachel Tilseth is a Menomonie, Wisconsin-based environmental writer, filmmaker, and owner of Wolves of Douglas County WI Films & Media. Lead writer at The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger. Her work explores the intricate relationships between humans, wildlife, and local ecosystems.

Jan O’Neill-editor at large. Jan edits the blog for grammatical accuracy and contributes story ideas.

Given Jan’s extensive 45-year nursing background, protecting the health and well-being of the Menomonie area has been her life’s work. With deep local roots in the Red Cedar River Watershed, she views environmental conservation as a natural extension of public health. Jan is dedicated to halting the proposed mega data center to preserve the community’s natural resources, advocating instead for sustainable, community-driven economic development that protects the long-term quality of our watershed.

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger is based in Menomonie, Wisconsin, in the historic Red Cedar Basin.

Discover how our local economy can thrive without leaving the planet behind. We cover news and stories on sustainable economic development, highlighting initiatives that boost community prosperity, foster equity, and protect our local ecosystems.

We are producing a series of educational articles and interviews featuring city leaders, scientists, and residents to explore sustainable economic development in the region. What began as a grassroots effort by Menomonie residents to successfully pause a controversial data center has evolved into a broader mission championing environmentally conscious, community-driven economic growth.”

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger, Menomonie, WI

Wolves of Douglas CO WI Films & Media, LLC

https://wolvesofdouglascountywisconsin.com