The initial economic data for Pottawatomie County is strong, with a steady labor force around the upper 13,000s (although it peaked to 14,001 in February), and sales tax revenues increasing over the same quarter last year. Home sales were also fairly strong for the early spring months, with the Q1 2026 home sales count outpacing the same from 2025 by ten sales.
Communities across the United States are increasingly being approached with data center development opportunities, driven by rapid growth in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure. Pottawatomie County and the Greater Manhattan region are now part of that conversation.
This reference guide provides a clear, fact-based foundation to help local leaders evaluate whether—and under what conditions—data center development aligns with regional priorities.
As we reflect on 2025, we are grateful for the continued partnership of PCEDC’s stakeholders. This year was defined by strong execution, meaningful collaboration, and measurable progress toward countywide economic growth.
Much of Pottawatomie County’s key economic data reflected a generally steady local market and climate throughout the year. The county labor force remained strong, ending the year at over 13,500, and sales tax revenues grew some from the year prior. While home sales and the count of overall building permits issued in Pottawatomie County decreased slightly, the number of permits issued for dwellings actually increased in 2025, showing a movement in the right direction as housing becomes an increasingly crucial part of development for the growing county.
2025 wrapped up with strong labor statistics for Pottawatomie County, and some anticipated slowing in home sales and building permits.
Pottawatomie County’s third-quarter 2025 economy remained steady, with consistent home sales, stable tax collections, and a strong labor market despite limited federal data due to the government shutdown. Housing demand continues to outpace supply, particularly in Saint Marys, where recent assessments show readiness for growth in senior, multifamily, and single-family housing. Overall, local economic indicators remain positive amid broader national uncertainty.
Economic data for Pottawatomie County in the second quarter generally fell within expected ranges, but did show slight downturns compared to the same time period in 2024. Sales and use tax totals over the second quarter lagged slightly (although year-to-date totals for 2025 still outweigh 2024), and monthly home sales are still slightly behind those of last year. However, these downturns have been generally small, and the county labor force has remained strong at over 13,600 total individuals working or looking for work.
Pottawatomie County’s initial economic data for 2025 includes strong labor force data and year-over-year sales and use tax growth. While these indicators started off strong, home sales were slow, even seasonally, with year-over-year data for home closings trailing last year’s cumulative data for the same time period.
In this year of growth and transition, we helped local employers attract and retain talent, supported business expansion, and played a key role in job creation. Through strong partnerships, we fostered collaboration and provided businesses, stakeholders, and residents with valuable resources. We also enhanced communication by producing economic reports, tracking key indicators, and sharing insights through newsletters and web content.
Economic indicators for Pottawatomie county, including labor, housing, and sales tax data, generally followed trends from the previous quarter and quarter three of last year. Sales and use tax revenues saw a strong spike in July, reaching over $500,000, and helping to bump year-to-date sales and use tax totals slightly above totals for the same time in 2023. Meanwhile, Pottawatomie County’s unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) dropped from 3.6% in July to 2.7% in September.
