Louisiana wins “Deal of the Year” award for its historic Meta data center project

Press release > Louisiana wins “Deal of the Year” award for its historic Meta data center project

For immediate release

01/09/2025

Business Facilities magazine, a leading national publication favored by large business location selectors, has awarded Louisiana the “Platinum 2024 Deal of the Year” award for its $10 billion Meta artificial intelligence data center. of dollars. This award is the magazine’s highest honor for major investments made in the United States.

Meta’s significant economic impact, with wages 150 percent higher than the state’s per capita average, helped Louisiana stand out. The magazine also praised Louisiana Economic Development’s inclusive approach, highlighting the new data center incentive program, educational partnerships and the robust capacity of local water and power infrastructure.

“This prestigious award highlights that, by attracting major investments in technology, we can significantly improve the lives of Louisianans by providing good-paying jobs that support families and help workers adapt to a changing world. rapidly evolving,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “We are doing what is necessary to not leave rural areas behind and position Louisiana as a global leader in innovation.”

“This distinction demonstrates the enormous potential of our state,” added Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “We are proud to have supported the development of the critical infrastructure that made this historic project possible. Together with our state partners, we are leading the way to a brighter and innovative future for Louisiana.”

Louisiana Economic Development projects the project will also generate more than 1,000 indirect jobs. Meta estimates that more than 5,000 construction workers will be mobilized to build the 4 million square foot data center at peak construction. Work is underway on a 2,250-acre parcel of the former Franklin Farm megasite in Richland Parish. This data center has been described as a transformative investment for Northeast Louisiana and the state as a whole.

“The 2024 Platinum Deal of the Year award sends a powerful message to CEOs and location selectors around the world: Louisiana is not only in the running, but we are determined to triumph,” said Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. of LEDs. “I want to thank the editors of Business Facilities for recognizing the significant impact of the Meta data center project, not only for Louisiana but also for the signal it sends. This is the type of transformative investment that Louisiana is now ready and committed to making.”

In addition to Meta’s huge investment in this Richland Parish data center, the company will also provide Data Center Community Action Grants to improve educational resources. These grants will help train a new generation of workers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Additionally, Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe is developing a training program designed to prepare students to enter the workforce with the skills needed to meet the challenges of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centers .

“The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and growing demand for technological capabilities have driven significant investments in data centers throughout 2024,” said Anne Cosgrove, editorial director of Business Facilities. “Our 2024 Deal of the Year winners represent billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs for the communities where these companies and their suppliers will operate. We congratulate the economic development teams who worked to bring these projects to fruition.”

About Entergy Louisiana

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge. Entergy Louisiana is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), a Fortune 500 company. Entergy provides energy to 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The company invests in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping the region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. A presence in Louisiana communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is nationally recognized for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, contributing more than $100 million in local economic benefits each year through its philanthropy, volunteerism and his plea. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans and the company employs approximately 12,000 people. Learn more about Entergy-Louisiana.com.