Applied Digital expands in North Dakota, eyes Oliver County for its third data center site.

Oliver County commissioners have signed a road use and operations agreement with APLD BIS-01, LLC—a subsidiary of Applied Digital Corp.—marking the formal approval for a new data center south of Hanover, near the intersection of state Highways 25 and 31. The agreement was signed on July 10.

This follows Applied Digital's rezoning application to Oliver County for what it calls an "AI Factory" near Center, which the county has not yet voted on.

Applied Digital confirmed the facility would operate similarly to its existing campuses in Ellendale and Harwood. The company projects approximately 200 full-time jobs and roughly 1,000 temporary construction positions. It aims to break ground this summer and complete the facility within 18 to 24 months.

The road use agreement details construction access plans. Applied Digital will construct a private road off Highway 31 to avoid heavy construction traffic on county roads. Loads exceeding 34,000 pounds are restricted to state highway routes under the agreement.

The deal includes environmental and community conditions negotiated by the county.

During a special commission meeting, an Applied Digital representative indicated the company was finalizing private land agreements with property owners along the planned access route and expected to complete them within days.

Applied Digital introduced Jody Hintz as its new community engagement coordinator for the Oliver County project. The company has held town halls, offered tours of its Ellendale campus, and participated in local meetings.

The Oliver County project has generated some controversy. The county commission voted to repeal a 180-day moratorium on data centers it had approved the previous month, and residents have raised concerns at recent public meetings.

Applied Digital operates the Polaris Forge 1 data center campus in Ellendale and is currently constructing Polaris Forge 2 near Harwood—a 280-megawatt facility leased to Oracle that will employ more than 200 workers.

Applied Digital secured a $2.15 billion bond offering in March 2026 to fund construction at the Harwood campus. The following month, the North Dakota Public Service Commission unanimously approved a $110 million power project, including a new substation and high-voltage transmission line, to serve the site.