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Meta’s $400 billion AI investment, alongside Big Tech giants like Microsoft, is reshaping rural America. From data centers to small towns like Front Royal, this spending spree is transforming Main Street and the future of rural communities.

The Trump administration’s new AI action plan aims to fast-track data center construction, cut regulatory red tape, and expand U.S. AI exports to strategic allies — all to outpace China in the global AI race. But with ethics and caution taking a backseat, this bold push is as much about geopolitical positioning as technology. Big Tech is watching — and investing — closely.

Data center infrastructure fueling AI workloads is rapidly expanding into rural areas, bringing heavy demands on water, power, and local governance. This growth often strains resources in small towns that lack the tools and policies to manage the environmental and social impacts.