Applied Digital plans $3.6B central Louisiana data center campus to train large AI models
Applied Digital announced a $3.6 billion data center campus, Delta Forge One, in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, expected to create 200 jobs. The project received local economic development approval for its land designation and follows other data center developments in the state, amidst concerns about energy costs and a recent moratorium in New Orleans.
Governor Jeff Landry announced a $3.6 billion data center campus by Dallas-based AI digital infrastructure firm Applied Digital in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Named Delta Forge One, the project is slated to create 200 full-time jobs with an average salary of $90,000 annually, bringing an estimated $500 million in direct benefits to the parish. Applied Digital purchased a 672-acre lot near Boyce, west of Alexandria, in December, with Rapides Parish’s economic development district approving the land designation in February.
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance CEO Chris Masingill hailed the project as a "defining moment" for Boyce, Alexandria, and the wider region, emphasizing its transformative economic impact. Richard Nottenburg, an Applied Digital board director, highlighted the firm's commitment to engaging local businesses for resources during construction.
This development is part of a larger trend of data center expansion in Louisiana, including Meta's Hyperion campus in Richland Parish, Hut 8's project in West Feliciana Parish, and Amazon's planned $12 billion investment near Shreveport. However, the rapid growth has prompted concerns from researchers and advocacy groups, who warned of a potential "digital cancer alley" due to threats to energy and resource affordability. Separately, the New Orleans City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data center construction following resident outcry.