Meta Expands Louisiana Data Center to 5 GW, Investing Over $50 B in Rural AI Infrastructure

Founder of Constellation Research Inc., Ray Wang, discusses the volatile AI tech rally and Meta’s evolving compute strategy on “Making Money.”

Meta announced on Monday that it is expanding its data center project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, to a total capacity of 5 gigawatts, making it one of the largest data centers ever built.

The expansion brings Meta’s cumulative investment in the region to more than $50 billion, representing one of the world’s largest AI‑infrastructure commitments.

When fully operational, the facility is expected to support over 1,000 jobs. Since breaking ground in December 2024, Louisiana businesses have received more than $1.6 billion in contracts from Meta.

Meta also plans to invest more than $1 billion in local infrastructure upgrades, including roads, water, and wastewater systems.

The expansion includes an energy agreement projected to save Entergy Louisiana customers over $2 billion across the next 20 years. Meta will cover the data center’s energy, water, and infrastructure costs.

The project is already reshaping Richland Parish, a rural community of roughly 20,000 residents. Teachers in the parish have received annual bonuses exceeding $50,000—up from $10,000 last year—thanks to increased tax revenue linked to the data center.

“It’s life‑altering for our teachers and their families, and it’s transforming our schools,” said Richland Parish School District Superintendent Sheldon Jones.

Meta’s investment has also helped the district attract higher‑quality teacher candidates.

Meta is donating $5 million to Louisiana Delta Community College to fund scholarships for residents training for data‑center jobs. Beginning with the class of 2026, all Richland Parish high‑school graduates will be eligible for full scholarships in data‑center‑related trade programs.

This scholarship initiative follows Meta’s June announcement of America’s Workforce Academy, a skilled‑trades training program that offers free tuition and guaranteed employment for graduates.

FOX Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.

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