More than half of Northern Virginia's business leaders see data centers as a positive economic force, even as pessimism about the national economy climbs.

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (NVC) and public relations firm Pinkston surveyed 169 CEOs, senior executives and business owners across the region in late September. The results, first reported by WTOP on Oct. 6, showed 53% of respondents view data centers favorably for the local economy. Another 34% expressed doubts, and 13% had no opinion. It was the first time the quarterly survey asked about data centers.

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce was among the local chambers that contributed to the survey, according to the NVC's survey page.

Tim Tkacz, CEO of Blue Sky Innovators, a Reston-based defense and national security company, told WTOP he is optimistic about the technology but cautious about growth.

"We need these … But at the same time, we have to be responsible about the impact that they have on the local communities that they go into," Tkacz said.

NVC President and CEO Julie Coons told WTOP on Oct. 6 that data centers enable the cybersecurity, commercial space and quantum computing industries the region wants to keep and attract. She called them critical to Northern Virginia's economic standing now and in the future.

The data center question lands against a shifting regulatory backdrop. Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on Sept. 18, banning nondisclosure agreements by state agencies on data center projects, eliminating by-right approvals for facilities generating over 25 megawatts and requiring centers to pay a larger share of electric costs, as FFXnow reported. Spanberger said she would work with the General Assembly to write those standards into state law during the 2027 session.

Sixteen percent of survey respondents cited data center and artificial intelligence regulation as a top priority for the 2027 General Assembly session. Housing affordability ranked first at 33%, followed by reducing taxes at 27%, transportation and infrastructure improvements at 15% and childcare affordability at 10%.

Confidence slips

The mood has shifted. Pessimism about the national economy rose to 47%, up from 38% in the second quarter, according to FFXnow. Only 34% of respondents said they are optimistic nationally.

Nearly half, 49%, said President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions on trade, tariffs and Iran are causing their businesses to decline.

Confidence closer to home also slipped. About 36% of respondents expected the regional economy to grow over the next six months, down from 40% in the second quarter. Twenty-three percent said they expect the local economy to decline.

Coons told FFXnow on Oct. 7 that Northern Virginia tends to feel federal policy shifts before most other regions and that uncertainty is weighing on confidence.

Two-thirds of leaders remained optimistic about their own companies, though that figure dropped from 77% in the second quarter. Hiring plans held relatively steady: 32% plan to add positions heading into 2027, and 58% plan to keep staffing about the same. On spending, 40% said they would hold steady and 37% plan slight increases.

Pinkston Senior Vice President D.J. Jordan told FFXnow on Oct. 7 that housing affordability is a major concern for business operations, wages and recruitment across the region.

The NVC and Pinkston have released quarterly survey reports throughout 2026. The full Q3 report is available on the NVC website.