What America’s AI Action Plan Means for Commercial Real Estate in North America

When the White House unveiled its America’s AI Action Plan in July 2025, much of the attention focused on research, security, and innovation. But tucked into the details was a set of proposals with big implications for commercial real estate—especially here in Northern Indiana, where data centers are becoming a defining piece of the landscape. The plan calls for streamlining federal permitting, expanding the FAST-41 program to include data centers, and coordinating grid upgrades. These changes are designed to shorten project timelines and reduce regulatory hurdles, creating a clearer path for private investment in large-scale infrastructure. For real estate developers, municipalities, and investors, that means the environment for building data centers could soon be more predictable and efficient.

Data Centers Take Root in Northern Indiana

The impact of this policy direction is already visible close to home. Amazon Web Services is investing $11 billion in a new campus in New Carlisle, which is being described as Indiana’s largest-ever capital investment. The project is expected to generate at least 1,000 jobs and has already spurred local infrastructure improvements, from road upgrades to utility expansions. The scale is massive, with power needs projected in the gigawatt range—highlighting why grid readiness is now as central to real estate planning as site control and permitting.

Amazon isn’t alone in staking a claim. Microsoft has quietly assembled nearly 1,000 acres at St. Joe Farm in Mishawaka/Granger, and the company is advancing additional projects in LaPorte. Together, these developments are creating a regional cluster of hyperscale data centers, positioning Northern Indiana as a strategic hub for cloud and AI infrastructure. Local leaders have noted that interest is growing from other large-load users as well, underscoring the momentum.

Policy Meets Local Growth

For projects like these, the AI Action Plan could prove especially significant. Expanding FAST-41 and introducing new categorical exclusions under NEPA would provide a faster federal review process for site work, utility tie-ins, and supporting energy facilities. That means fewer delays and more certainty for developers who are often managing billion-dollar timelines. At the same time, the plan’s emphasis on grid reliability and demand management aligns with the realities on the ground in St. Joseph and LaPorte Counties, where substations, transmission upgrades, and interconnection queues are already shaping development strategies.

Another layer is security and supply chain oversight. Federal guidance is likely to push data centers toward U.S.-aligned equipment, stronger site protections, and tighter land-use controls around sensitive infrastructure. For commercial real estate players, this adds new dimensions to due diligence—everything from evaluating buffer zones to coordinating with utilities and local governments on long-term land control.

A Defining Moment for the Region

Taken together, the AI Action Plan and Northern Indiana’s wave of data center construction signal a defining moment for the region’s commercial real estate market. The combination of federal support, hyperscale private investment, and local readiness is reshaping what development looks like here. It’s no longer just about industrial parks and distribution centers—our market is being positioned as part of the national backbone for AI and cloud computing.

For stakeholders in real estate, the opportunity is clear but comes with complexity. Success will depend on balancing speed with compliance, securing reliable power, and ensuring that projects integrate smoothly with community needs. If done right, the next decade could see Northern Indiana emerge not just as a host for data centers, but as a model for how regions across the country can adapt to the infrastructure demands of the AI era.