News Release > Louisiana earns 'Deal of the Year' award for historic Meta data center project

Louisiana earns 'Deal of the Year' award for historic Meta data center project

01/09/2025

Business Facilities Magazine, a respected national trade publication favored by site selectors for large businesses, has recognized Louisiana's $10 billion Meta artificial intelligence data center as its Platinum 2024 Deal of the Year. It is the magazine's highest honor for major investments in the United States.

The profound community impact of Meta's average salaries, which will exceed 150% of the state's per capita average, helped set Louisiana apart. The magazine also applauded Louisiana Economic Development's "all-of-Louisiana" approach, singling out the state's new data center incentive program, education partnerships and robust local power and water infrastructure capacity as differentiators.

"This prestigious award makes clear that pursuing major capital investments in technology, we can dramatically improve the lives of Louisiana residents with high-paying jobs that support families and help workers all across our state adapt to a fast-changing world," Governor Jeff Landry said. "We are making good on our commitment to not leave rural areas behind as we position Louisiana as a global leader in innovation."

"This recognition shows us what this great state is capable of," said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. "At Entergy Louisiana, we are proud to have supported the development of critical infrastructure that made this historic project possible. Together with our state partners, we are paving the way for a brighter, more innovative future for Louisiana."

LED estimates the project will also create more than 1,000 indirect jobs. Meta projects that more than 5,000 construction workers will help build the 4 million-square-foot data center at the peak of construction. Work is underway on a 2,250-acre section of the former Franklin Farm megasite in Richland Parish. The data center has been called a transformational investment for northeast Louisiana and the state.

"The 2024 Platinum Deal of the Year award sends CEOs and site selectors around the world a powerful message: Louisiana is not only in the game, we are in it to win," LED secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. "I want to thank the editors of Business Facilities for recognizing the profound impact of the Meta data center project not only for Louisiana but for the signal it sends. It's the kind of transformational investment that Louisiana is now positioned and determined to achieve."

In addition to the massive investment Meta is making in the data center in Richland Parish, the company will also award Data Center Community Action Grants that are aimed at improving educational resources. These grants will help train a new generation of workers around science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. In addition, Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe is developing a curriculum that is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce ready to take on challenges around emerging technology such as artificial intelligence and data centers.

"The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and the demand for technology capabilities overall spurred significant investment in data centers throughout 2024," Anne Cosgrove, Business Facilities editorial director, said. "Our 2024 Deal of the Year winners represent billions of dollars in capital investment and thousands of jobs for the communities in which these companies and their suppliers will operate. We congratulate the economic development teams that worked to bring all of 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 powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. It is investing in the reliability, and resilience and growth of the energy system while helping the region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in Louisiana communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship delivering more than $100 million in local economic benefits each year through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at Entergy-Louisiana.com.