Boyce, La. (5/26/2026) – The Applied Digital Rapides Parish AI project is being described as one of the largest economic development announcements in Central Louisiana in generations.
Governor Jeff Landry, Louisiana Economic Development, Cleco, Louisiana Central, the England Airpark Authority, and regional leaders gathered at England Airpark to officially announce Applied Digital’s $3.6 billion Delta Forge 1 AI factory campus, a project expected to significantly shape the economic future of Rapides Parish and surrounding communities.
The large-scale artificial intelligence and cloud computing campus will be built near Boyce within the England Economic & Industrial Development District and will serve as Applied Digital’s first Louisiana location.
According to Louisiana Economic Development, the project will create 200 direct full-time jobs with salaries averaging roughly $90,000 annually, approximately 150% above the state average wage. LED estimates an additional 218 indirect jobs will be created across the region, while more than 1,000 construction jobs are expected during peak construction.
Governor Jeff Landry called the announcement a defining moment for Central Louisiana.
“For over 100 years this state has struggled under the weight of bad policy and missed opportunities,” Landry said. “Today, we deliver.”
The campus will initially include two facilities spanning approximately 300 acres with 300 megawatts of IT capacity dedicated to artificial intelligence workloads and advanced computing operations.
Applied Digital executives described the project as a long-term investment in Central Louisiana and emphasized plans to partner with local universities, businesses, and workforce development programs aimed at preparing local residents for future technology careers.
“Central Louisiana is exactly the kind of community we had in mind when we set out to build Applied Digital,” Applied Digital Chairman and CEO Wes Cummins said. “Our hope is that this campus becomes a source of opportunity and pride for generations to come.”
Applied Digital officials also addressed growing national concerns about data center energy demand and water consumption, stating the campus will use proprietary closed-loop cooling technology designed to conserve water while supporting high-density AI computing environments.
Largest Economic Development Opportunity
Cleco President and CEO Bill Fontenot called the announcement the largest economic development opportunity in the company’s history.
“This is real,” Fontenot told attendees. “This is a landmark day for our community and Central Louisiana.”
Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill described the project as potentially the most transformational investment seen in Rapides Parish since the major industrial expansions of the 1950s and 1960s.
While many local leaders celebrated the announcement, some residents continue to raise questions regarding long-term utility impacts and environmental concerns. Additionally, community members remain skeptical about the substantial tax incentives tied to these large-scale AI infrastructure projects.
Construction activity on the campus is already underway, with initial operations expected to begin in mid-2027.
For many residents across Rapides Parish, the announcement represents the first economic development project of this scale in nearly two decades and signals a new era of technology and infrastructure growth for Central Louisiana.
Previous Article: Alexandria International Airport Celebrates Return of United Airlines Service to Houston
