The Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes Meta's announcement that it will build a new data centre in Sturgeon County, within the Chamber's service region and Alberta's Industrial Heartland.
The Sturgeon Data Centre will be Meta's first data centre in Canada and is expected to play a key role in supporting the company's global digital infrastructure, including the growing demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
According to Meta, the project will represent an investment of more than CA$13 billion, support approximately 3,000 skilled trades workers during peak construction, create more than 300 permanent operational jobs, and include approximately CA$60 million in local infrastructure improvements.
The announcement adds to a growing list of major investments being made across Alberta's Industrial Heartland, a region that continues to attract global companies seeking reliable infrastructure, skilled labour, and a competitive business environment.
"Data centres and the infrastructure required to support artificial intelligence have been part of the conversation in our region for some time," said Colin Fagnan, Executive Director of the Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"We knew Alberta was well-positioned to compete for investments like this, and we're pleased to see that confidence translate into a project of this scale within our region. Meta's decision to invest more than $13 billion in Sturgeon County is a strong vote of confidence in Alberta's workforce, infrastructure, and long-term economic potential. It is another positive example of the investment momentum we continue to see across Alberta's Industrial Heartland."
Meta has stated that Sturgeon County was selected because of its talented workforce, reliable infrastructure, and strong community partnerships. The company has also committed to supporting local non-profit organizations through its Data Centre Community Action Grants program and plans to match the facility's electricity consumption with clean energy resources developed in Alberta.
The Chamber looks forward to following the project's progress and learning more about opportunities for local businesses as the development moves forward.