HOLLY RIDGE, La. — Meta said it will invest more than $50 billion to expand its data center project in Richland Parish, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind globally and significantly increasing the scale of artificial intelligence infrastructure in Louisiana.
The expansion will grow the campus to nearly 10 million square feet with about 5 gigawatts of IT capacity. The site will house Hyperion, Meta’s largest AI training cluster, and is expected to become the largest data center in the company’s global network.
The project is expected to support about 7,500 construction jobs at peak and roughly 1,000 permanent operational jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates an additional 1,900 indirect jobs, bringing total potential job creation in the region to more than 2,700.
Meta said it has already committed more than $1.6 billion in contracts to Louisiana-based companies since construction began. The company is also using the state’s Source Louisiana platform as its primary portal for subcontracting opportunities, aimed at connecting local businesses with project work.
The investment adds to a broader wave of capital inflows into the state, which officials say has surpassed $150 billion in secured investment since 2024.
The project comes as demand for artificial intelligence computing infrastructure accelerates globally, requiring large-scale data centers and power capacity. Meta’s Louisiana facility is positioned as a central component of its global infrastructure supporting AI development and digital services.
The company is also investing in workforce development through partnerships with Louisiana Delta Community College, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and other institutions. Louisiana is one of four pilot locations for Meta’s workforce training initiative focused on skilled trades and data center operations.
In addition to job creation, the project is driving infrastructure and energy investments. Meta and Entergy Louisiana have reached an agreement to support new power generation, including seven natural gas plants, three grid-scale battery systems and potential nuclear upgrades. The plan also includes expanded renewable energy capacity, with Meta committing to fund up to 2.5 gigawatts of clean energy.
Meta said it will contribute $215 million to Entergy programs supporting bill assistance and residential energy efficiency. Under the agreement, the company will cover the full cost of infrastructure required to power the facility during a 20-year service term, a structure intended to limit rate impacts on other customers.
The companies said the broader energy plan is expected to deliver more than $2 billion in savings for Entergy Louisiana customers.
Meta has also invested more than $1 million in Richland Parish since announcing the project in 2024, supporting schools, local businesses and community development projects. The company said increased economic activity tied to construction has boosted local tax revenues, contributing to higher supplemental pay for teachers and additional funding for public services.
The facility will incorporate sustainability measures, including plans to return 100 percent of its water usage to local watersheds and invest in wetland restoration and water infrastructure projects.
State officials said the project reflects a strategy to attract large-scale industrial and technology investments while balancing energy costs, workforce development and local economic impact.