Meta’s superproject in Louisiana could draw Arkansas workers across Stateline

By Wesley Brown

February 11, 2025 – Like the $2 billion Toyota Motor manufacturing facility in Blue Springs, Miss., that opened in 2011, northeast Louisiana is expected to draw Arkansas workers over the state line after Meta announced the nation’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) superproject in late 2024.

The Facebook and Instagram parent and the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announced on Dec. 4 that the tech giant is embarking on a monumental $10 billion AI data center project in Richland Parish, La., calling it “a transformational investment that cements the state’s status as a major innovation hub and leader in the global digital revolution.”

The 4 million square foot data center will be located about an hour’s drive from Junction City, Ark., in Union County, and will be Meta’s largest AI center in the world. Meta projects the data center will support at least 500 direct new jobs in Richland Parish. LED estimates the project will create more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the region.

Construction is already underway and is expected to continue through 2030, promising a decade of economic growth and job opportunities. When construction peaks, the company estimates 5,000 workers will be employed on the 2,250-acre site.

“Today, Louisiana begins a new chapter. Today, we are delivering new jobs and economic growth on a scale unimaginable before we took office,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement. “Meta’s investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana’s rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state’s beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future.”

Rickland Parish in the North Louisiana Delta is only one hour from the Arkansas state line. Hyperscaler data centers, such as the one planned in the Louisiana Delta, are housed in huge physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including AI workloads.

The facility is the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers worldwide. Once operational, the Richland Parish Data Center will be part of the highly advanced infrastructure that supports the Silicon Valley tech giant’s branded technologies, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads to life. This infrastructure includes cutting-edge technology and robust systems to ensure the smooth operation of Meta’s services.

“Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission,” said Kevin Janda, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy. “Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward.”

Louisiana economic development officials expect the project, one of the most significant private capital investments in the state’s history, to spark new economic activity and investments throughout northeast Louisiana and beyond as multiple industries benefit from the billions of dollars invested. Meta makes a concerted effort to source labor and materials locally and partners with local schools and organizations to advance STEAM education and digital skills that can be used to compete in the digital workforce.

Entergy Louisiana, part of utility giant Entergy Corp. and sister utility to Entergy Arkansas, said it plans to invest in modern, efficient generation facilities and robust transmission infrastructure to support the region and Meta’s data center.

Entergy said it would add clean, efficient power plants to its system to power the data center, which extends more than one mile from front to back, to its system to meet growing power demands, including those from the data center.

Meta has pledged to match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy. This means that for every unit of electricity the data center consumes, an equivalent amount of clean energy is added to the grid. Meta will work with Entergy to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy to the grid, significantly contributing to the region’s clean energy goals.

To support the data center’s construction and eventual operation, Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) has committed $250,000 in Workforce Rapid Response funding to Delta Community College in Monroe, La., to develop programs and expand capacity. Delta will scale up its construction trades programs to meet the initial construction needs and partner with peer institutions experienced in developing and delivering curricula for data center operations.

Meta expects construction to continue through 2030, with site work beginning in December. The company said it will invest more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems.