Meta has officially announced plans to break ground on a new AI-optimized data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This facility marks Meta's first data center in the state and represents the company's 28th location in the United States and 32nd globally. Once operational, the center will be specifically engineered to support Meta's artificial intelligence workloads, enabling its technologies to help users connect, build communities, and expand their businesses. The project is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region, with a total investment exceeding $1 billion. During the peak of construction, the site will employ over 1,000 workers. Following completion, the facility will create approximately 100 permanent operational jobs. In addition to direct employment, Meta is allocating more than $25 million to improve local infrastructure, including upgrades to roads and water systems. Community partnerships are a central pillar of the initiative. Meta is providing a grant to Eastside Rise to expand neighborhood enhancement programs in East Tulsa, funding projects such as community gardens, public art, and home repairs. Furthermore, the company is collaborating with Tulsa Tech and Tulsa Community College to launch a cross-institutional workforce development program. This learning lab aims to prepare students for careers in digital infrastructure, covering technical trades like cooling simulation and fiber optics, as well as AI and data analytics. The partnership targets the creation of a pipeline that produces over 200 graduates annually in these high-demand fields. Environmental stewardship, particularly regarding water usage, is a key design consideration. Meta plans to utilize a water-efficient closed-loop liquid-cooled system that recirculates water, allowing the facility to use zero water for the majority of the year. The company will also cover the full costs of water and wastewater services, ensuring these expenses are not passed on to consumers. To address broader community needs, Meta is partnering with the Tulsa Community Foundation to establish a fund that assists residents struggling with water bills or in need of water line repairs. The company has set a goal to be water positive by 2030, restoring more water to local watersheds than it consumes. As part of this effort, Meta is working with Phytech on a ten-year project to implement plant-sensor irrigation technology across 1,500 acres of farmland in the region. This initiative is expected to save over 50 million gallons of water annually while optimizing crop yields and reducing energy use. Regarding energy, the data center will draw 100% clean energy to power its operations, with Meta covering all associated costs. The company plans to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars toward grid infrastructure improvements, such as substations and transmission lines, which will benefit the wider community. Meta intends to add over 1,500 megawatts of clean energy to the Oklahoma grid through its utility payments. Additionally, the company will make annual contributions to the Public Service Company of Oklahoma's Light a Life Program, a partnership with the Salvation Army that provides financial assistance to customers struggling to pay their energy bills. Meta remains committed to building facilities that serve as positive contributors to their host communities and looks forward to working with the people of Tulsa to bring this data center online.