City Council approves project agreement and tax incentives for Faith Technologies, Inc.
At a glance
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At a special Opelika City Council meeting on February 24, 2026 (6:00–6:54 PM), all council members attended (Mayor absent). After a public hearing with residents expressing concern about perceived health impacts and whether the project was a "data center," the council unanimously approved a Project Development Agreement with Faith Technologies, Inc. and unanimously approved certain tax abatements and exemptions for the company. City staff clarified the operation will be a manufacturing facility (not a data center), located in the former JoAnn Distribution Center building, and is expected to provide up to 200 high‑wage jobs; incentives are tiered and contingent on job creation and were described as budgeted.
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Key decisions
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- Approved Project Development Agreement with Faith Technologies, Inc. (Resolution No. 050-26) — unanimous.
- Approved certain tax abatements and exemptions for Faith Technologies, Inc. (Resolution No. 051-26) — unanimous.
- Council and staff clarified the approved project is a manufacturing operation for the electronics industry (not a data center) to be located in the former JoAnn Distribution Center building and described expected job impacts (up to 200 positions).
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Meeting information
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Opelika City Council Special Meeting 02-24-26
Agenda
- 1. A CALL TO ORDER
- 2. ROLL CALL
- 1. George Allen, Janataka Hughley-Holmes, Leigh Whatley, Chuck Beams, Todd Rauchattachments=1Decision: ROLL CALL
- 3. INVOCATION
- 1. W. George Allen - President of the City Council.Decision: INVOCATION
- 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- 1. Russell A. Jones, MMC - City Clerk.Decision: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- 5. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
- 1. Motion to Adopt the CM Agenda for 02-24-26.Decision: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
- 6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S)
- 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- 8. MAYOR COMMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
- 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
- 1. Public Hearing - Project Development Agreement with Faith Technologies, Inc.attachments=1Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
- 10. AGENDA-RELATED PUBLIC COMMENTS(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
- 11. CONSENT AGENDA
- 12. GENERAL BUSINESS
- 13. AWARDING OF BIDS
- 14. RESOLUTIONS
- 1. Approve Project Development Agreement with Faith Technologies, Inc. - ED.attachments=3Decision: RESOLUTIONS
- 2. Approve Certain Tax Abatements and Exemptions for Faith Technologies, Inc. - ED.attachments=2Decision: RESOLUTIONS
- 15. ORDINANCES
- 16. APPOINTMENTS
- 17. SECOND ROSTER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS(Limit comments to 3 minutes or less)
- 18. ADJOURN
- 1. Motion to Adjourn.Decision: ADJOURN
Documents from this meeting
- Agendahttps://opelikaal.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=3388,plainText=false)
- Minuteshttps://opelikaal.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=3391,plainText=false)
- Packethttps://opelikaal.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=3389,plainText=false)
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