The Lollie Road Data Center Deal
This site hosts documents released in response to FOIA-2026-76, filed by Conway resident Matthew Mattingly. All documents are presented as-released with no alterations. Analysis is clearly labeled as such and distinguished from primary source material.
All facts stated here are drawn directly from released documents. Speculation is clearly labeled. We let the records speak for themselves.
What the Documents Show
The MOU Was Stamped "Not Subject to Disclosure" — Then Disclosed
The Forgelight Ventures MOU bears the header "CONFIDENTIAL, TRADE SECRET INFORMATION, NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE REQUESTS" on every page. Yet the city released it under FOIA. Simultaneously, when asked for NDA/confidentiality agreements, the city said it had "no records responsive." The contradiction is now documented.
Source: Forgelight Ventures LLC_MOU.pdf · LET_RESPONSE_2026-76.pdf65% Tax Abatement for 30 Years — Up to $50 Billion in Personal Property
The MOU commits Conway to a net 65% property tax abatement for 30 years. Bond structures cap real property at $10 billion and personal property at $50 billion. Conway Corp will provide cooling water via treated effluent from the Tupelo Bayou Wastewater Treatment Plant, with special franchise fee arrangements separate from what residents pay.
Source: Forgelight Ventures LLC_MOU.pdfThe Rezoning Applicant Was the Conway Development Corporation — Not the Developer
The rezoning application was filed by Jenifer Kendrick of the Conway Development Corporation (Chamber of Commerce) on behalf of landowner Johnny Adams. The actual data center developer, Forgelight Ventures, is not named in the rezoning application. The land was rezoned from Agricultural (A-1) to Heavy Industrial (I-3).
Source: Rezoning Cover Letter.Adams.4.3.25_v1.pdf · REZ-0425-0052_160 Acres Lollie Rd A-1 to I-3_RR.docxPortions of the Property Are in the 100-Year Floodplain. No Environmental Review Was Done.
The city's own planning staff memo notes: "Portions of the property lie within the 100-year floodplain." No environmental assessment was conducted. The FOIA response for environmental review documents returned: "The City of Conway has no records responsive to this item." — for ADEE, Dept of Health, Army Corps of Engineers, and EPA.
Source: REZ-0425-0052_160 Acres Lollie Rd A-1 to I-3_RR.docx · LET_RESPONSE_2026-76.pdfWater Concerns Are Documented — Alderman Acknowledged Them
The FOIA release includes 19+ emails from residents titled "Concerned Lollie Rd Resident," plus multiple threads explicitly about water usage. One resident cited news reports about neighborhoods losing water near Meta data centers. Alderman Drew Spurgers replied: "Understood on the concerns. I'll visit with Bret Carroll on this and see if there's more we need to stipulate as we move forward."
Source: Data Center.pdf · Multiple .msg files in FOIA releaseCity Passed Data Center Zoning Laws in 2023 — Well Before This Became Public
Conway passed O-23-55 (noise rules for data centers) in July 2023 via special meeting, and O-23-72 (zoning definitions) in fall 2023. These established the legal framework before the Lollie Road rezoning application was filed in April 2025. The MOU with Forgelight appears to have been negotiated in the same period.
Source: O-23-55 ORD_Adm_Data Center Crypto Noise Ordinance.docx · O-23-72_ORD_Planning_Data Centers.docx~50 Jobs. $1 Billion Investment. $20 Million Per Job.
The MOU states the project creates "approximately 50 new high-quality jobs." At $1 billion in investment, that's approximately $20 million per job — in a deal supported by a 65% tax abatement over 30 years. Whether this trade-off serves Conway residents is a legitimate public question that deserves an open debate.
Source: Forgelight Ventures LLC_MOU.pdf — Note: jobs/investment ratio analysis is TDS campaign commentary, not a document claim.Timeline of Events
All Released Documents
169 documents were released in response to FOIA-2026-76. Key documents are linked and described below. All are presented unaltered as received from the City of Conway.
The core deal. $1B data center, 65% tax abatement / 30 years, cooling water from Tupelo Bayou WWTP. Stamped "Not Subject to Disclosure" — then disclosed.
Official city response. Notes what was included vs. what had "no records responsive" — including the NDA request and environmental reviews.
Filed by Jenifer Kendrick (Conway Development Corp) on behalf of landowner Johnny Adams. 160± acres. A-1 → I-3. States explicitly: "to host a data center campus."
Resident Ted Warriner raised water supply concerns. Alderman Drew Spurgers responded acknowledging the issue and promising follow-up with Bret Carroll.
Planning staff analysis. Notes floodplain concerns, adjacent zoning, traffic projections. Recommends approval.
Property deed for the parcels subject to rezoning. Shows ownership chain and legal description.
Email correspondence about the rezoning application packet between city staff and parties involved.
Internal email about the required 200-foot adjacent property owner notification list for the rezoning.
Email between council and/or staff regarding the rezoning process before the Planning Commission meeting.
Authorization-related email around the Planning Commission meeting on the rezoning.
Internal Microsoft Teams messages from city staff the day before the April 22 City Council meeting.
Internal planning staff Teams messages discussing April 2025 Planning Commission agenda items, including Lollie Road.
Official minutes. Contains official record of votes and discussions related to the data center and rezoning.
Adds "Data Center (Limited)" and "Data Center (General)" to Conway Zoning Code. Establishes where data centers are permitted. Fall 2023.
Noise attenuation rules for data centers. Passed July 25, 2023 via special City Council meeting in response to Arkansas Act 851.
Adds Article X to Conway Zoning Code. Signed by Mayor Bart Castleberry, November 25, 2025.
Memo from Planning Chair Rebekah Fincher to Mayor Castleberry recommending approval of data center zoning amendments. Sept 26, 2023.
Photo proof of the public notice sign posted at the Lollie Road rezoning site, as required by Arkansas law.
Second public notice sign photo for the Lollie Road rezoning application.
Screenshot of internal Microsoft Teams messages among city planning staff about the Lollie Road rezoning.
Additional Teams screenshot from city planning staff communications about the rezoning.
Third screenshot from the planning staff rezoning communications chain.
Teams screenshot from Planning & Development department internal communications.
Additional Planning & Development Teams screenshot.
Teams screenshot from additional parties in the rezoning communications.
📁 The full FOIA release contains 169 files total — including 90+ resident and official email chains (.msg), multiple large Planning Commission PDFs, City Council agendas, and a nested archive ("0 Culberson Data Center.zip", 60MB) not yet fully catalogued. All files presented as released.