atNorth drives local growth in Akureyri

Article published by Viðskiptablaðið on October 14, 2026.

The president of Akureyri’s town council says atNorth’s operations support approximately 490 jobs and contribute substantial funds to the local community.

According to Gunnar Gunnarsson, President of Akureyri’s Town Council, atNorth’s data center in Akureyri represents the first major new industry to be established in the town in decades. He made these remarks during a discussion on data center development in the Arctic and its impact on local communities at the recent Arctic Circle Assembly.

Development of atNorth’s facility in Akureyri began in 2022. The site now has six data halls, with more planned. The company’s investment is estimated at approximately ISK 16 billion and is expected to reach ISK 30 billion.

Today, atNorth employs around 40 people in the town. Gunnar explained that while this is a relatively modest number, these are specialized positions filled by people recruited locally, making them particularly valuable to the community.

According to Gunnar, residents were initially skeptical about the development, questioning how many jobs the data center would create and what value it would bring to the community. However, attitudes began to change when job opportunities were advertised and local suppliers realized they could develop business opportunities around the facility’s operations. The benefits have since extended across the wider community.

The greatest impact has been indirect. According to an analysis conducted by KPMG for atNorth, the company’s operations already support approximately 490 jobs, while around ISK 4.6 billion remains within the local economy.

The economic contribution is also reflected in the municipality’s finances through property taxes, development fees, and local income taxes.

Gunnar emphasized that the greatest economic benefits occur during the construction phase. The next important step is to create additional opportunities and develop local knowledge and expertise in collaboration with the University of Akureyri.

He also suggested that additional development sites should be considered across the Eyjafjörður region. The national government would need to play a role, including through measures such as supporting international flights to Akureyri.

Investment alone is not enough. If data centers are to drive Akureyri’s next economic transformation, the community wants to shape that transformation itself rather than simply be shaped by it.

Read the article in Icelandic here.