Outside Charlotte, Meta + Corning launch 1,000-job data center support project

Meta Platforms and Corning Inc. have announced a massive $6 billion partnership to boost fiber optic cable manufacturing at Corning's facility in the Hickory area of Catawba County, North Carolina. The agreement, set to span five years, will make the Hickory plant the largest optical cable facility globally and is crucial for supplying the necessary infrastructure for Meta's rapidly expanding data centers and the growing demands of artificial intelligence. The initiative is expected to create approximately 1,000 new jobs across North Carolina, including roles for scientists, engineers, and production workers, with average annual salaries exceeding $65,000. This represents a significant 15-20% increase in Corning's current state employment. Hal Nelson, Corning executive vice president, emphasized the foundational role of optical connectivity for AI, while Dan Sachs, Meta's vice president of public policy, highlighted the critical need for high-performance fiber optic cables within data centers. Local and state government officials, including Hickory Mayor Hank Guess and Annetta Taylor, Deputy Secretary for broadband and digital opportunity for the NC Department of Information Technology, celebrated the partnership. Taylor referred to Hickory as 'the fiber capital of the country,' underscoring North Carolina's vital role in the global fiber-optic supply chain. Scott Millar, president of Catawba County Economic Development Corp., noted the historical transformation of the Trivium Corporate Center site. The article also references Catawba County's established 'Data Center Corridor' and existing large data center presences, including Apple's facility opened in 2010 and Microsoft's ongoing $1 billion data center projects across various communities within the county like Conover, Maiden, and Newton. These projects, which involve significant tax benefits for the localities, highlight the region's importance as a rising hub for data center expansion in the Carolinas.