Facebook is adding three more buildings to its Newton Data Center complex by 2023. The new buildings will include nearly 1.5 million square feet in the sprawling Stanton Springs business park in northeast Newton County.
In 2018, Facebook announced it would begin construction on the Newton Data Center project. The two buildings in its first phase included 970,000 square feet and employed about 50 when completed.
Stanton Springs is operated by the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Newton, Jasper, Morgan, and Walton counties, and it continues to boost the local economy. Combined with two buildings now under construction, it will give the social media company a total of five buildings with 2.5 million square feet and represent a total investment of $1 billion.
The addition will bring an additional 200 jobs, as well as 1,000 to 1,200 construction jobs, said Katie Comer, community development regional manager for Facebook.
“This is such a special community,” Comer said. “They have welcomed us with open arms.”
“We are extremely excited about the announcement from our partners at Facebook,” adds Serra Hall, Newton County’s economic development representative for the Joint Development Authority.
“Facebook’s commitment to the four-county partnership is a remarkable of example of teamwork,” she added. “We are grateful for the support of Gov. Brian Kemp, as well as the members of the Joint Development Authority of Stanton Springs and Walton County, which have brought a regional approach to economic development,” Hall said.
“It is exciting to see the progression of Facebook at Stanton Springs and the hard work from their team,” said Hall, who is also vice president of project development for the Newton County Industrial Development Authority.
Facebook has provided nearly $1.5 million in grants to local schools, nonprofits and small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company also recently launched its Community Action Grants program which supports projects that meet community needs by putting the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off, or improving local STEM education.
