Meta’s $27 billion Hyperion AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, has sparked a surge in local economic activity, including a boom for small businesses like Holy Tacos. The 4-million-square-foot facility, announced in December 2024 and covering 2,250 acres, is Meta’s largest data center to date and has drawn thousands of construction workers to the rural area, transforming the local economy, according to fortune.com.
Tim and Lindsey Allen, local residents of Rayville in Richland Parish, capitalized on the influx of workers by opening Holy Tacos, a taco joint serving over 1,600 tacos daily with names like “Divine Swine” and “Golden Calf.” Initially planning a taco truck at the construction site, they adapted when vehicles were barred, renting a vacant building to serve quick meals to workers finishing 12-hour shifts. This pivot proved successful as the center’s construction intensified, fortune.com reported.
The Hyperion data center project highlights how large-scale AI infrastructure investments can reshape rural economies by creating demand for services and boosting local businesses. Meta’s investment is among the largest in the AI data center space, with the facility expected to support the company’s growing AI workloads. The project’s scale and economic impact are comparable to other major tech infrastructure investments that have revitalized small communities, according to fortune.com.
The Hyperion data center remains under construction, with thousands of workers continuing to drive local demand. The Allens’ Holy Tacos exemplifies the ripple effect of Meta’s investment, demonstrating how AI infrastructure projects can generate tangible economic benefits beyond the tech sector, as detailed by fortune.com.