Monroe- LA Louisiana Delta Community College has been awarded a $5 million donation from Meta, aimed at creating scholarships for local residents to fill critical data center jobs associated with Meta’s growing facility in Richland Parish.
This endowment will provide full scholarships to graduates from Richland Parish high schools, starting with the Class of 2026. The scholarships enable students to pursue any trade certificates or courses related to data centers offered at Louisiana Delta Community College. This initiative is poised to equip students with the necessary skills for high-demand careers in the burgeoning sectors of technology and construction.
The announcement coincides with Meta’s plans to expand its Richland Parish data center from 2 to 5GW of computing capacity. As the project scales, Louisiana Delta Community College will collaborate with Meta and industry partners to prepare local residents for careers in AI.
"This is a transformational investment in the people of Richland Parish and Northeast Louisiana," stated Dr. Justin Hoggard, Chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College. "Meta’s generosity will eliminate financial barriers for local students and offer them a direct pathway into robust careers tied to one of the most significant economic development projects in our state’s history. This gift will change lives, strengthen families, and help build the workforce needed for the future."
The scholarships will support training in various data center-related fields, including programs tailored for employment in data center operations, construction trades, electrical work, fiber optics, HVAC, and other technical fields within the industry.
"We're committed to investing in the communities where we operate," said Henry Thornton from Community Development at Meta. "This $5 million investment in Louisiana Delta Community College will create a direct pipeline from local classrooms to high-quality careers — removing financial barriers and continuing to build the skilled workforce here in Northeastern Louisiana."
