Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Wednesday that it will expand its Illinois presence in DeKalb, which is about an hour outside of Chicago.
In 2020, Meta announced that DeKalb would be the site of a 100 percent renewable energy data center for the company. Construction is on the center is underway, but with the latest announcement from the social media conglomerate, an additional three buildings will be added to the site. The new buildings will add 2.4 million square feet of real estate.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our presence in Illinois. The city of DeKalb and the State of Illinois have been great partners from the beginning, and we look forward to a continued strong and fruitful partnership for years to come,” Darcy Nothnagle, director of community and economic development at Meta, said in a statement.
The expansion, according to a prepared statement from Meta, will be able to support over 200 operational jobs. Meta is currently hiring for at least 20 open roles.
“The expansion proves Illinois, and specifically DeKalb County, can meet the needs of large global companies which require a skilled workforce, modern infrastructure and a strong and competitive business environment,” Paul Borek, executive director of DeKalb County’s Economic Development Corporation, said in a statement.
While the new data center will provide jobs for locals, the investment in the community goes beyond employment. Meta also announced that it will open applications for its Community Action Grants program in DeKalb County for the fall of 2022. The grant will provide funds to schools or nonprofit organizations that need funding for STEM departments or are working on projects that seek to connect people through technology.
Meta will also start a partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to use AI to develop new sustainable concrete mixes. The new concrete formula would help Meta achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2030.
