Former Senator Held Land Near Proposed Data Center
Jonathan Dismang owned land bordering an Arkansas site selected for a multibillion-dollar AVAIO data center project.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Data Centers
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Former state Senator Jonathan Dismang is a minority partner in a real estate group that owns 46.4 acres of land adjacent to a planned $6 billion AVAIO data center in Wrightsville. The property acquisition includes parcels purchased by the group in 2019 and July 2026.
Why it matters
The development comes as Arkansas utilities consider using the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act, which allows companies to charge ratepayers for infrastructure construction costs. Public scrutiny often follows when elected officials hold financial stakes in land near major economic development projects.
The proposed $6 billion data center project is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs and 70 permanent positions. AVAIO invested over $7 million to acquire 291.6 acres for the project south of the investor group's land.
The players
Jonathan Dismang
He is a former state Senator and the current vice president of external affairs at the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp.
AVAIO
This infrastructure investment firm is the developer behind the $6 billion data center project planned near Wrightsville.
Whitwell, Ryles, Dismang LLC
This real estate investment group owns 46.4 acres of land bordering the proposed data center site.
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp.
This utility provider employs Jonathan Dismang as its vice president of external affairs.
The details
The real estate group, Whitwell, Ryles, Dismang LLC, purchased 42 acres for $32,500 in 2019 and two additional two-acre parcels for $1,600 on July 29, 2026. Jonathan Dismang, who resigned from the state Senate on September 15, 2026, serves as vice president of external affairs at the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp.
Timeline
The investment group purchased 42 acres in 2019.
AVAIO announced the $6 billion project in January 2026.
The group purchased the final two parcels on July 29, 2026.
Jonathan Dismang resigned from the state Senate on September 15, 2026.
The data center is expected to become operational by 2028.
The Tech Race
The expansion of massive data centers reflects a broader trend of energy-intensive infrastructure driving utility-backed development in states like Arkansas. This facility represents a shift toward large-scale digital hubs that rely on cooperative utility models to expedite construction.
The utilization of the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act by utilities could directly influence local electricity rates for residents throughout the state. Consumers should track whether construction costs for the new data center are passed on to their monthly utility bills.
The takeaway
Large-scale infrastructure projects often involve complex land deals that intersect with state legislative policies. Residents may find it beneficial to monitor how utility-backed development acts influence their local energy costs as these projects progress.
Further reading
For additional context on the growth of this sector, read more on Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ArkansasOnline.
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