West Michigan nonprofit brokered three data center deals under non-disclosure agreements

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Solon Township residents learned in January 2026 about a data center planned for their rural community, months after a local official signed a non-disclosure agreement about it. The Right Place, a Grand Rapids nonprofit that distributes state grants, brokered the deal.

A Reddit investigation, not yet checked against independent records, says The Right Place is leading three data center projects: two backed by Microsoft in Lowell and Gaines Townships, and one by Meta in Solon. The secrecy shows how economic development deals can advance without public input, even when taxpayer money and major infrastructure are involved.

Why it matters

If taxpayer-funded agencies can sign NDAs over major infrastructure, residents get no say in projects that will shape their communities for decades.

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Key Indicators

$537,018

Thelen's 2024 compensation

Randy Thelen's salary and bonuses as CEO of The Right Place, per a Reddit investigation.

Data center projects brokered

Microsoft-backed in Lowell and Gaines Townships; Meta-backed in Solon, per the Reddit post.

NDAs signed with local officials

Cedar Springs city manager and Solon Township supervisor, per the Reddit investigation.

20+

Michigan hyperscale proposals since 2025

Hyperscale data center projects proposed statewide, including four in West Michigan, per Grand Rapids Chamber.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Randy Thelen

Chief Executive Officer, The Right Place

Leads the nonprofit that brokered three data center projects

Organizations Involved

The Right Place, Inc.

Nonprofit economic development organization

Brokered three data center projects in West Michigan

Public-private nonprofit promoting economic growth in the Grand Rapids region, distributing state grants and brokering development deals.

Microsoft

Technology company

Backs data centers in Lowell and Gaines Townships, per the Reddit post

Software and cloud giant developing data centers worldwide, including two in West Michigan per a Reddit investigation.

Timeline

October 2024 October 2026

5 events Latest: Today

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
Reddit investigation details NDA-backed brokering
Today Report

Reddit investigation details The Right Place's three data center projects and NDAs.
Today
January 2026
Cedar Springs Bugle reports Solon data center
Disclosure

Cedar Springs Bugle reports Solon data center, revealing project to the public.
January 2026
June 2025
NDA signed with Solon Township supervisor
Development

NDA with Solon Township supervisor, covering the data center project.
June 2025
2025
Hyperscale projects proposed across Michigan
Context

Over 20 hyperscale data center projects proposed across Michigan, including four in West Michigan.
2025
October 2024
NDA signed with Cedar Springs city manager
Development

NDA with Cedar Springs city manager, facilitated by The Right Place.
October 2024

Scenarios

West Michigan data centers break ground

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Grand Rapids Chamber and The Right Place, which tout jobs and tax revenue

Microsoft and Meta projects clear local zoning and tax approvals, and construction begins. The pushback seen elsewhere in Michigan does not materialize in these townships, and the region lands a major infrastructure boom. Residents who were left out of early discussions may still see the promised tax and job benefits arrive.

A township rejects or pauses a data center

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Community members and the Michigan for Responsible Data Center Coalition

Concerns over energy, water, noise, and process, amplified by the NDA revelations, lead a township board to vote down or indefinitely delay a project. This would mirror pushback already visible elsewhere in Michigan, where more than 20 hyperscale proposals have stirred opposition.

Michigan enacts data center disclosure rules

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: State legislators and transparency advocates responding to NDA controversies

The revelations prompt legislation requiring public notice before data center agreements or incentives are finalized, or restricting non-disclosure agreements in economic development. Unlikely but not impossible, given the scrutiny these projects draw and the established pushback across the state.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2017-2021

Foxconn in Wisconsin (2017-2021)

Foxconn announced a $10 billion LCD factory in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, promising 13,000 jobs in exchange for billions in state and local incentives. The deal was announced with presidential fanfare and billed as transformative for the region.

Then

Construction began in 2018, but plans shrank repeatedly. By 2021, the campus was largely unbuilt and employment far below what was promised.

Now

The deal became a national cautionary tale about incentive-driven development and the gap between announcements and delivered results.

Why this matters now

Like the West Michigan data centers, it involves a big tech project in a smaller community, brokered with public incentives and local commitments, where promised benefits took years to materialize or fell short.

September 2017 - February 2019

Amazon HQ2 (2017-2019)

Amazon opened a public bid for a second headquarters in September 2017, drawing proposals from more than 200 cities. The process was confidential, with cities offering billions in incentives without public debate over the terms.

Then

Amazon chose New York and Arlington, Virginia, in November 2018. After opposition from local officials and activists over incentives and process, Amazon scrapped the New York campus in February 2019.

Now

The episode sharpened public skepticism about using tax breaks to lure large employers and about secrecy in site-selection negotiations.

Why this matters now

Directly parallels the NDAs in West Michigan: residents learned about major projects after commitments with public funds were made, and the backlash showed that secrecy can backfire.