Miami-Dade County approved more than $3.6 million in incentives for a new data center identified only as "Confidential Project Apollo," leaving nearby residents in West Miami-Dade without a public company name or clear notice about what could be built near their homes.
Here's what to know
As NBC6 Investigates reported, county commissioners signed off in December 2024 on incentives for Project Apollo, a 75,000-square-foot data center that county records placed in District 12 and projected for completion in 2026.
The development involved a $150 million capital investment, 27 jobs with an average pay of $80,000, and nearly $6 million in property tax revenue over 10 years, according to the records. The county would issue the more than $3.6 million incentive package only if the project hit its commitments.
Public documents tied to that vote did not identify the company behind the proposal, as the station noted. The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade's economic development group, supported the application but said it could not "comment on or confirm details related to specific projects." That led NBC6 on a fact-finding mission that spanned weeks.
At long last, Miami-Dade's Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources provided the outlet with an application naming California-based Metrobloks.
More background
Metrobloks refers to the project on its website as MIA A1.
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On its website, NBC6 found descriptions indicating the property covers more than four acres and may require nearly 16 megawatts of continuous electricity for servers, storage, and other information technology systems.
The location sits off Northwest 137th Avenue between two storage facilities. During a September visit, the station said fencing surrounded the land, trucks were parked on the west side, and two "for sale" signs stood at the front.
Representatives at neighboring storage businesses told NBC6 they had not heard about plans for a data center there.
The network also spoke with Madeline, a resident east of Northwest 137th Avenue, who said she could see the project from her backyard.
"I am not in agreement with it being built, but I don't know if my opinion counts," she said.
What's being done?
Most public details have surfaced through NBC6's reporting and records requests, not direct outreach to neighbors.
While trying to confirm basic details of the agreement, the station said it reached out to all Miami-Dade commissioners, as well as the mayor's office and county attorney. Those efforts eventually produced a county application naming Metrobloks and listing Scott Couzen, identified on the company's website as chief operating officer, as the signatory.
Property records added more detail. NBC6 found that MB Sweetwater Site, an LLC, bought the four parcels in March 2025 for $13.6 million, with Metrobloks mentioned in the purchase agreement. A separate county record describes Metrobloks as a "manager member" of the LLC.
The outlet said it contacted Metrobloks, the developer, and their real estate agent with questions about the confidentiality, whether residents would be notified, and the revised completion timeline. The station had not heard back.
"I don't think it's going to look too good for us," Madeline concluded to NBC6.
Where can I learn more?
Similar disputes over data centers, public approvals, and who pays are emerging nationwide.
• In Florida, regulators are weighing Duke's data-center tariff and whether households could subsidize new demand.
• In Columbia County, officials moved closer to a Google data center while touting tax benefits.
• In Piqua, leaders approved a 30-year power deal for Meta after an $8 million pledge.
• In Wilmington, officials considered an emergency vote on a $4 billion AWS data center.
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