INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Mike Braun (R) and executives from Meta Platforms Inc. broke ground Wednesday on a more than $10 billion data center campus in Lebanon. The project, located at the LEAP Innovation and Research District, is expected to create 300 permanent high-wage jobs and more than 4,000 construction jobs at peak, according to a release from Braun’s office. “Indiana has the business-first environment and the central location needed to support the global infrastructure of tomorrow’s economy,” Gov. Braun said. The new campus will serve as a central part of Meta’s global infrastructure for artificial intelligence and next-generation technology. The investment follows the company’s previous $800 million data center project in Jeffersonville and contributes to more than $23 billion in total investment secured by the LEAP District since 2022, the governor’s office says. The 1,500-acre campus will feature 13 buildings, including 10 data center buildings. The site will also house facilities for logistics, warehousing, network, and administrative support functions. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, plans to construct and outfit the campus over several phases. Rachel Peterson, vice president of data centers at Meta, said the project is a major component of the company’s future technology goals. “At Meta, we’re building the infrastructure that will power the next generation of AI technology and Lebanon is now at the heart of that effort,” Peterson said. “This is one of our largest investments to date and it marks an important milestone in our AI ambitions.” Meta officials say the investment will contribute to local and state tax bases while supporting area schools and non-profit organizations through grant programs. As part of the development, Meta committed to an annual community impact payment of $1.5 million to the city of Lebanon for each completed phase of the project. The development is planned for up to six phases. The company also unveiled an annual grants program designed to put technology to use for community benefit and fund local workforce development. “By choosing Lebanon, Meta is not only investing in our community but is also strengthening the critical digital infrastructure that powers the modern world,” Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry said. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation committed to a 35-year data center sales tax exemption for the project. To remain eligible, Meta must invest a minimum of $1 billion in capital within the first six years. The exemption term can be extended up to 50 years if the company meets further performance-based milestones, including an additional $2.2 billion in investment within the first 17 years. This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews andedits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness. ...read more read less