Meta to expand Louisiana data center to 5GW, linking new capacity with local scholarships and training

Meta said on Monday it is expanding its Richland Parish, Louisiana data center to 5 gigawatts of compute capacity, framing the project as both a major buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure and a long-term effort to connect local residents and businesses to jobs and training tied to the site.

The company’s announcement highlighted a $50 billion-plus investment in the Richland Parish region, which Meta described as among the largest AI infrastructure investments globally. Meta said it is “built in America” and tied to infrastructure projects, workforce development programs, and an energy agreement with Entergy Louisiana.

A centerpiece of Meta’s local plan is a $5 million donation to the Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) Foundation. Meta said the donation will create scholarships designed to train Richland Parish residents for “critical data center jobs,” with full scholarships for graduates of Richland Parish high schools starting with the class of 2026 for any data center related trade certificate or course.

Meta also said it has supported training for local small businesses and built partnerships to help firms compete for opportunities connected to the data center. The company cited efforts ranging from subcontracting pathways to workforce development partnerships with local colleges and universities, positioning the project as a pipeline for both near-term contracting and longer-term skills development.

Beyond education and contracting, Meta said it has provided funding for equipment for the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Holly Ridge Fire Protection District. The company’s release presented these items as examples of what it described as community investment accompanying the infrastructure build.

In comments carried by Meta, local business owners and officials said the project is changing work opportunities and demand for services. Scott Holmes, owner of Mayo Tours, said the company’s charter bus fleet grew from 40 coaches to 102 and that most drivers working onsite are now earning more than $80,000 a year in a region where median income is $42,000, according to Meta.

Meta’s release also included remarks from LDCC Chancellor Dr. Justin Hoggard, who said the LDCC Foundation scholarship gift is intended to remove barriers and help students pursue careers close to home. Savannah Morris, Executive Director of the Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce, said Meta and partners brought in experts to train local business owners at no cost, and pointed to programs including America’s Workforce Academy alongside full scholarships for high school graduates.

The company further outlined the energy and utility structure behind the expansion. Meta said it pays the full costs of energy, water, and related infrastructure used by the data center so consumers are not paying for those costs. It also said a “recent agreement” with Entergy would fund seven new natural gas-fueled generating plants, three grid-scale batteries, nuclear uprates, and other purchased power.

Meta’s release said the arrangement is expected to save Entergy Louisiana customers more than $2 billion over 20 years, on top of $650 million in savings produced by a first agreement. Meta said the energy plan is intended to support reliable power for the build, while also addressing consumer cost concerns. Meta also cited that more than $1.6 billion has already been contracted with local companies and that thousands of jobs are being supported as the project has advanced.

The company did not provide additional details in the announcement about the timing of the 5GW buildout, the specific contractors involved, or the exact mechanism for workforce placement and apprenticeship outcomes. It also did not break out how much of the investment is reserved for particular training credentials versus other workforce development activities, beyond the scholarship description and references to programs and partnerships.

Looking ahead, investors and local stakeholders will likely focus on whether Meta’s promised energy-cost structure materializes as described, how quickly the facility ramps to 5GW of compute capacity, and whether the education and small-business programs deliver measurable job and contracting results for residents of Richland Parish over time.