(June 14, 2018) – Thursday, Facebook announced it will invest $750 million to build a data center in Huntsville, Alabama. The company shared the news along with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, TVA President Bill Johnson and others involved in the project, including the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

“Every day, millions of people around the world use Facebook’s products, and this new Alabama data center will soon play a role in keeping the company’s popular platforms running flawlessly,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “Facebook has found a great location in Sweet Home Alabama, and we’ll do our best to help the company grow and prosper here.”
“We are excited to be joining the Huntsville community. As one of the fastest growing tech hubs in the country, we knew it would be a great location for our newest data center,” said Matt VanderZanden, Director of Site Selection at Facebook. “We are committed to having a positive impact at the local level and look forward to a strong partnership with the Huntsville community.”

The Huntsville City Council gave unanimous approval on May 24 for Facebook’s project entity, Starbelt LLC, to purchase 340 acres at $8.5 million in North Huntsville Industrial Park.

“Huntsville’s Gig City strategy to sustain our position as a leader in the knowledge economy has brought us a company that knows something about creating connections,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Facebook has built its business on connecting friends to family, businesses to customers, and people to the world. Huntsville is proud to be the center of these connections with the construction of this data center.”

Once construction is finished, the data center will employ approximately 100 people. The company said it chose Huntsville because of the quality of life, a pro-business environment, and a talented and available workforce.

Artist rendering of Facebook’s Huntsville Data Center (Courtesy: Facebook)

“Madison County, Alabama continues to excel in all facets of job creation along with the diversification of our workforce,” said Commission Chairman Dale W. Strong. “Today’s partnership with Facebook and their leadership once again shows our community is perfectly positioned for today’s high tech market. While our mission here in North Alabama has never been clearer, I feel we are setting conditions for greater success for generations to come.”

“This is another major step in increasing access to jobs in North Huntsville,” said Devyn Keith, District 1 Council Member. “We are excited to support the administration on these game-changing economic projects and to continue to capitalize on successes that will increase quality of life in the area.”

“TVA appreciates the determined effort among many state and local partners who helped out-recruit, out-prepare and out-train the competition to win this important project for the people of North Alabama,” said Bill Johnson, TVA President. “The success of our efforts proves that when everyone works together to cultivate the Valley’s assets, business and industry will come, making life better for us all.”

“Facebook’s decision to build a new data center in Huntsville is evidence that Alabama is and continues to be open for business,” said Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). “North Alabama is widely acknowledged for its growing technological capabilities, and I am proud that this highly successful company has recognized the potential of locating in the area. This is a significant opportunity for Madison County, and I look forward to partnering with Facebook and welcoming the company to our great state.”

“The Huntsville metro is being recognized internationally as a smart place to do business,” said Lucia Cape, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Economic Development. “Today’s announcement of a Facebook data center in North Huntsville is possible because our community has invested in the infrastructure, focused on quality of life, and made economic diversity a priority.”

Facebook has established a new Page for this project: Facebook.com/HuntsvilleDataCenter. Please ‘Like’ the page for updates specific to the Huntsville data center, including job postings, information on how to join in the construction process, and more.