Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to build a $10 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data center in northeast Louisiana, the Louisiana Economic Development agency said in a statement.
The four million-square-foot facility would be Meta’s largest worldwide, among more than 20 Meta data centers. The Richland Parish facility will be located on a 2,250-acre site between Rayville and Delhi, Louisiana.
At its peak, Meta projected the center would create 5,000 construction jobs.
A rendering of the $10 billion Meta data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana. Image: Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated, “Meta’s investment revitalizes our rural areas and creates high-paying job opportunities. This project reflects our commitment to attracting capital investment through tax reforms.”
The governor’s office reported that the data center will support 500 direct jobs and generate more than 1,000 indirect jobs, boosting the local economy.
Entergy Louisiana will add clean energy sources to the grid to help meet energy demands. Meta plans to invest more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including to Louisiana’s roads and water systems.
Louisiana Economic Development added that as “one of the largest private capital investments in the state’s history,” it expects the project “to spark new economic activity and investments throughout northeast Louisiana as multiple industries benefit from the billions of dollars invested.”
Project completion is expected by 2030.
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