Fort Wayne nonprofit hosts meeting on Sunday to discuss the data center and other projects

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - You’ve seen the headlines and the construction crews across 21Country: from the Lulu-Sorenson transmission project to massive new data centers, one project after another is reshaping the local landscape.

While the Google data center in Allen County is already under construction, some neighbors say the fight to protect the community is far from over.

Kimberly Koczan with the Protect Allen County Coalition believes there is still a vital window of time for residents to make their voices heard.

“Google had asked us, ‘What are the things that you want and need? Do you have a complete list?’” Koczan said. “So we want to work on that. We want to say, ‘This is what we need for water, air, protecting our soil, and protecting human health.’”

For many residents, the challenge isn’t a lack of concern; it’s knowing how to communicate with a multi-billion-dollar global company. While Google’s website features a contact form for messages, many neighbors aren’t sure where to start or what specific protections to ask for.

That is where this Sunday’s community gathering comes in. The event is designed to help residents brainstorm and draft their concerns together.

“We wanted to get a chance to get neighbors and residents together, so that we could voice our concerns,” Koczan explained.

The gathering won’t just focus on the data center. The group plans to discuss how several local projects connect, including the Lulu-Sorenson transmission lines and the concept of “nuclear-ready communities.”

The goal is to understand the “whole picture” of how these developments will affect the environment and, perhaps most importantly, the local economy.

“We want to see ... how water, energy demands, and this Google data center impact our environment but also our pocketbooks,” Koczan said.

If you want to have your say in the future of your neighborhood, the Protect Allen County community gathering is happening this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 5801 Adams Center Road.

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