Economic Growth

Corporate Heartbeat: The Win-Win of Giving Back

Corporate giving is increasingly viewed as part of local economic infrastructure—not discretionary generosity. In the U.S., 13.7% of households experienced food insecurity in 2024, impacting millions of working families and signaling stress within regional labor markets. As cost-of-living pressures persist and metro regions like North Texas continue to grow rapidly, business leaders are reassessing…

Workforce, Housing, and Growth: How Applied Digital Is Revitalizing a Rural Town Through AI Infrastructure

As AI infrastructure spreads beyond tech hubs and into America’s heartland, companies face a new imperative: not just to build facilities—but to build trust, local partnerships, and long-term value for the communities that host them. In Ellendale, North Dakota, Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 1 campus has become a case study in what rural revitalization…

Opportunity Is Knocking, Small Towns Must Answer

As innovation spreads beyond urban centers, small towns are increasingly finding themselves at the forefront of economic transformation. Whether it’s a tech company setting up shop or a new industry planting roots, these shifts present a rare chance for rural communities to redefine their futures. But opportunity alone isn’t enough—it takes local leadership, a collaborative…

AI’s Exponential Influence: Beyond Speed to Societal Transformation

Michael Maniscalco, CTO of Applied Digital, anticipates the rapid acceleration of AI development, emphasizing that its growth is expected to be exponential and possibly beyond. Noting the surge in investments and the broad market interest, he underscores AI’s transformative potential not just in economic terms but in reshaping societal structures. Maniscalco cites examples such as…