If you think there’s a place for your business to be part of the eventual $10 billion, 4 million square foot Meta AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana Economic Development wants to hear from you.
The state has strongly encouraged Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to use Louisiana labor and materials in its data center.
Meta has estimated that the structures to be built on 2,250 acres outside of Holly Ridge will require 5,000 jobs at peak construction. When completed, the project, which is Meta AI’s largest facility to date, will be equivalent in size to approximately 70 football fields.
LED’s Innovation and Small Business Services team is partnering with Meta and its general contractors to create a series of informational sessions designed to inform Louisiana’s small and medium-sized businesses about the opportunities that will create the project, but Christopher Cassagne, senior director of LED Small Business Services, says any size Louisiana business can participate.
LED has created a login portal for businesses potentially interested in being a vendor at the Meta Center. Businesses are asked to provide contact information and the services they may offer.
Cassagne confirms that more than 1,000 businesses have already signed up.
Groundwork is underway at the site of a future Meta artificial intelligence-optimized data center in the Holly Ridge area of Richland Parish, La., shown here Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
“It’s a lot of work on 70 football fields, a lot of land,” Cassagne said. “But in the short term – and by short term, I mean over, let’s say, the next three to five years – the focus in terms of opportunities will absolutely be on all things related to construction, site development and in the construction of these buildings afterwards”.
“We haven’t really turned the page on the next phase, but there will be another phase in terms of opportunities to connect with Meta on things that they need for services and procurement-related activities.”
Cassagne said it is important to note that LED will not be involved in the procurement of businesses and is playing a purely informational role, a role he takes very seriously.
“Historically, in terms of when we recruit and have these big projects coming into the state, there’s been a disconnect to make sure and ensure that our small businesses are well-informed and well-positioned to compete in those projects,” Cassagne said.
“This is kind of like our pilot or beta in a sense of sharing information and making sure that our people, our businesses in Louisiana are informed.”
Cassagne says LED is holding biweekly meetings with Meta and will share information learned there.Â
A rendering of an aerial view of Meta’s future AI-optimized data center to be built in Richland Parish, La.
The project, which is being called “transformational” in northeast Louisiana, was supported by a state lease and other incentives tied to Meta’s investment and job creation.
Average wages are claimed to be 150% of the state per capita average. According to the latest numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the average salary in Louisiana is $58,614.92. Public records associated with the project project an average Meta salary of $82,000.
LED says that in addition to the 500 jobs at the Meta AI factory and 5,000 temporary construction-related jobs, the project will also support more than 1,000 “indirect” jobs.
