Meta Platforms Inc. broke ground on a $10 billion data center campus at the LEAP Innovation and Research District in Lebanon, Ind., on Feb. 11, 2026. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun attended the ceremony with Meta executives to mark the start of construction on the 1,500-acre site. The company said the project will support approximately 300 high-wage operational jobs upon completion and more than 4,000 construction jobs at peak activity.
What it means
The campus will consist of up to six phases and include 13 total buildings, 10 of which are designated as data center facilities. The remaining structures will house logistics, warehousing, network operations, and administrative support functions. Meta stated the site is intended to serve as a central part of its global infrastructure for next-generation technology and artificial intelligence. Rachel Peterson, vice president of data centers at Meta, said the investment marks an important milestone in the company’s AI ambitions.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation committed to a performance-based incentive package tied to capital investment and job creation. The initial agreement provides a 35-year term data center sales tax exemption contingent on Meta investing a minimum of $1 billion in eligible capital within the first six years. Additional five-year extensions are available for subsequent capital investments: $2.2 billion triggers the first extension, and incremental investments of $1.6 billion trigger further extensions over a 17-year period, allowing for a maximum total exemption duration of 50 years. Meta also committed to an annual community impact payment of $1.5 million to the city of Lebanon for each completed phase.
This is Meta’s second tech infrastructure project in Indiana. The company has a 700,000-square-foot data center in Jeffersonville that is nearing completion, representing an $800 million investment. Gov. Braun said the state’s business-first environment and central location support the global infrastructure of tomorrow’s economy. The LEAP District, which targets sectors including biotech, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, has secured more than $23 billion in investment since 2022.
Key facts
- $10 billion total investment for the Lebanon campus
- 1,500 acres of land at the LEAP Innovation and Research District
- 13 buildings total, including 10 data center buildings
- Up to six construction phases
- Approximately 300 high-wage operational jobs upon completion
- More than 4,000 peak construction jobs
- $1.5 million annual community impact payment per completed phase
- 35-year initial sales tax exemption requiring $1 billion in capital within six years
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corporation news release