Inside Louisiana’s $10 Billion Deal of the Year: How the Meta AI Data Center Became a Reality

Business Facilities magazine has named Louisiana’s $10 billion Meta artificial intelligence data center its Platinum 2024 Deal of the Year, marking the state’s first-ever recognition at this level. The award highlights not only the transformational economic impact of the project but also the unprecedented effort by Louisiana leaders to rewrite laws, negotiate incentives, and move at record speed to secure one of the largest data center investments in the world.The story of how Meta’s massive data center landed in Richland Parish began just weeks into Governor Jeff Landry’s administration. In January 2024, at a crowded Washington Mardi Gras event, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) officials, Entergy Louisiana executives, and state lobbyists gathered in a Shell conference room on K Street. Amid the networking, Ed Jimenez of Entergy Louisiana pulled Anne Villa, then acting LED secretary, aside with a message: “We have a big project, and we think Louisiana can be a contender.”Days earlier, Meta executives had visited Entergy’s headquarters in New Orleans, scouting potential locations for a cutting-edge AI data center.

Over dinner at Copper Vine, a local bistro, the tech giant made its expectations clear—Louisiana would need to move fast. Meta’s search for a site in the South had already drawn interest from other states, and Louisiana needed to offer competitive incentives, infrastructure support, and a streamlined approval process to have a shot.From that moment, state leaders launched into action. Landry’s team, still settling into office, forged agreements with legislative leaders, cabinet secretaries, and local officials to deliver an unprecedented economic package. The state enacted a new data center incentive program, secured regulatory approvals, and positioned Louisiana as a prime destination for technology investment.By December 2024, Meta officially announced that its 4-million-square-foot facility—one of the largest single-site data centers on the planet—would be built on 2,250 acres of the former Franklin Farm megasite, about 30 miles east of Monroe.Once completed in 2030, the AI-powered data center is expected to create 500 permanent jobs and generate more than 1,000 indirect jobs, with construction alone employing over 5,000 workers at peak development. The average salary for employees at the facility will exceed 150% of the state’s per capita income, marking a significant economic boost for northeast Louisiana—a region historically challenged by high poverty rates and limited job opportunities.LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois, who played a key role in finalizing the deal, called the project a game-changer. “It was such a non-traditional deal that happened so fast, and everyone was on the same page. It was really amazing,” she said.

While some environmental advocates have raised concerns about energy consumption and the center’s reliance on fossil fuels, state officials emphasize that the economic and technological benefits far outweigh the challenges. The project is expected to catalyze additional data center investments, positioning Louisiana as a key player in AI-driven infrastructure development.Governor Jeff Landry, who campaigned on a pro-business agenda, called the Meta investment proof that Louisiana is becoming a leader in technology and innovation. “This deal demonstrates that we are serious about making Louisiana a destination for high-paying, cutting-edge jobs. It’s a transformational investment that will benefit our state for generations,” Landry said.Louisiana’s bold approach to securing the Meta project stood out among national competitors, earning the highest honor in Business Facilities’ 2024 Deal of the Year awards. The magazine praised the state’s aggressive economic strategy, its collaborative approach with industry leaders, and its commitment to workforce development—including new STEAM education grants funded by Meta and a tailored curriculum at Louisiana Delta Community College to train future tech professionals.The Meta deal follows a series of major economic wins for Louisiana, including Amazon Web Services’ $10 billion data center investment in Mississippi, which received Business Facilities’ Gold Award. In past years, Grön Fuels' renewable energy complex in West Baton Rouge Parish was also recognized as a top national project.With the Meta data center well underway, Louisiana has sent a clear message to CEOs and site selectors worldwide: the state is open for business—and ready to lead in the digital economy.

Business Facilities magazine has named Louisiana’s $10 billion Meta artificial intelligence data center its Platinum 2024 Deal of the Year, marking the state’s first-ever recognition at this level. The award highlights not only the transformational economic impact of the project but also the unprecedented effort by Louisiana leaders to rewrite laws, negotiate incentives, and move at record speed to secure one of the largest data center investments in the world.

The story of how Meta’s massive data center landed in Richland Parish began just weeks into Governor Jeff Landry’s administration. In January 2024, at a crowded Washington Mardi Gras event, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) officials, Entergy Louisiana executives, and state lobbyists gathered in a Shell conference room on K Street. Amid the networking, Ed Jimenez of Entergy Louisiana pulled Anne Villa, then acting LED secretary, aside with a message: “We have a big project, and we think Louisiana can be a contender.”

Days earlier, Meta executives had visited Entergy’s headquarters in New Orleans, scouting potential locations for a cutting-edge AI data center. Over dinner at Copper Vine, a local bistro, the tech giant made its expectations clear—Louisiana would need to move fast. Meta’s search for a site in the South had already drawn interest from other states, and Louisiana needed to offer competitive incentives, infrastructure support, and a streamlined approval process to have a shot.

From that moment, state leaders launched into action. Landry’s team, still settling into office, forged agreements with legislative leaders, cabinet secretaries, and local officials to deliver an unprecedented economic package. The state enacted a new data center incentive program, secured regulatory approvals, and positioned Louisiana as a prime destination for technology investment.

By December 2024, Meta officially announced that its 4-million-square-foot facility—one of the largest single-site data centers on the planet—would be built on 2,250 acres of the former Franklin Farm megasite, about 30 miles east of Monroe.

Once completed in 2030, the AI-powered data center is expected to create 500 permanent jobs and generate more than 1,000 indirect jobs, with construction alone employing over 5,000 workers at peak development. The average salary for employees at the facility will exceed 150% of the state’s per capita income, marking a significant economic boost for northeast Louisiana—a region historically challenged by high poverty rates and limited job opportunities.

LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois, who played a key role in finalizing the deal, called the project a game-changer. “It was such a non-traditional deal that happened so fast, and everyone was on the same page. It was really amazing,” she said.

While some environmental advocates have raised concerns about energy consumption and the center’s reliance on fossil fuels, state officials emphasize that the economic and technological benefits far outweigh the challenges. The project is expected to catalyze additional data center investments, positioning Louisiana as a key player in AI-driven infrastructure development.

Governor Jeff Landry, who campaigned on a pro-business agenda, called the Meta investment proof that Louisiana is becoming a leader in technology and innovation. “This deal demonstrates that we are serious about making Louisiana a destination for high-paying, cutting-edge jobs. It’s a transformational investment that will benefit our state for generations,” Landry said.

Louisiana’s bold approach to securing the Meta project stood out among national competitors, earning the highest honor in Business Facilities’ 2024 Deal of the Year awards. The magazine praised the state’s aggressive economic strategy, its collaborative approach with industry leaders, and its commitment to workforce development—including new STEAM education grants funded by Meta and a tailored curriculum at Louisiana Delta Community College to train future tech professionals.

The Meta deal follows a series of major economic wins for Louisiana, including Amazon Web Services’ $10 billion data center investment in Mississippi, which received Business Facilities’ Gold Award. In past years, Grön Fuels' renewable energy complex in West Baton Rouge Parish was also recognized as a top national project.

With the Meta data center well underway, Louisiana has sent a clear message to CEOs and site selectors worldwide: the state is open for business—and ready to lead in the digital economy.