Applied Digital Breaks Ground on $3B AI Campus in North Dakota

Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) surged 15.97% to $16.34 on August 18, 2025, following its announcement of a $3 billion AI data center project in North Dakota. The Polaris Forge 2 campus, slated for completion in 2027, will deliver 280MW of capacity for hyperscale AI workloads.

The facility's scalable design has already attracted interest from investment-grade clients, reflecting strong demand for enterprise AI infrastructure. CEO Wes Cummins positioned the project as a strategic response to the computational arms race in artificial intelligence.

Regional economic benefits include over 200 jobs and infrastructure development partnerships. APLD's stock performance underscores market confidence, with year-to-date gains of 113.87% dwarfing the S&P 500's returns.