By WSFA 12 News Staff
Published: May. 2, 2024 at 5:17 AM CDT|Updated: May. 3, 2024 at 11:15 AM CDT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms, announced Thursday that it plans to open an $800 million data center in Montgomery, the state’s second such facility. The center will support 100 operational jobs and more than 1,000 construction jobs to build the site.
“I’m the only governor I’m told to be able to announce two Meta sites and how proud we are to support this company,” said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.
The data center, which has been cleared for construction, will be built off Interstate 65 in Montgomery, across from the Hyundai automotive assembly plant. The new data center in Montgomery will become Meta’s 24th data hub and the 20th in the U.S.
Montgomery area officials discussed Meta’s investment project, predicting that it would have a massive long-term economic impact on the region.
“Meta’s decision to expand into Montgomery with a state-of-the-art data center showcases how our region is diversifying into a knowledge-based economy and highlights the competitiveness of Montgomery and our economic development team,” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said. “This initiative marks a pivotal moment for Central Alabama and serves as a catalyst for our entire region’s pursuit of knowledge-based employment opportunities.”
“This project will have an enormous impact on Montgomery, and I am honored to welcome Meta to our community,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Doug Singleton. “This project is truly a victory for Montgomery as we experience continued economic growth year after year. This investment of $840 million speaks volumes to the commitment that Meta is making to the people of Montgomery.”
Meta opened its first Alabama data center in Huntsville in 2021 when it was still known as Facebook. The Montgomery facility is expected to open at the end of 2026 making Alabama the only state in the U.S. with two such data centers.
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