Applied Digital’s $3.6 Billion Delta Forge 1 AI Data Center Campus in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Boyce, Louisiana – Construction is actively underway on Applied Digital Corporation’s $3.6 billion AI data center campus near Boyce in Rapides Parish. The project, known as Delta Forge 1, represents the company’s first facility in Louisiana and remains one of the largest economic development initiatives in Central Louisiana in recent memory.

Project Status (as of July 2026)

• Groundbreaking: Site development began in January 2026.
• Scale: The campus spans roughly 300–500 acres initially (part of a larger 672-acre site) and will start with two facilities delivering approximately 300–430 MW of critical IT load. It is purpose-built for large-scale AI training and inference using closed-loop cooling technology. datacenterdynamics.com
• Timeline: Initial operations are scheduled for mid-2027, with phased construction continuing into 2028.

Economic Impact

• Direct jobs: Approximately 200 full-time on-site positions with average salaries around $90,000–$91,000 per year (roughly 150% of the state average).

• Construction: Over 1,000 peak construction jobs (currently around 300 workers on site).
• Indirect jobs: An additional ~218 jobs, for a total regional impact of roughly 418 new opportunities.Long-term revenue: Projected to generate approximately $575 million over 25 years for local governments and services.

Applied Digital is acting as the developer/landlord, with expectations of a major hyperscale tenant investing another ~$3.6 billion in equipment and fit-out, bringing the total project value to around $7.2 billion.

Power Infrastructure

In a major July 2026 update, utility provider Cleco announced plans to build a new 756 MW natural gas power plant dedicated to serving the data center—the largest single load in the company’s history. Applied Digital will cover the costs of the plant, related infrastructure, and a 10-year power supply agreement.

While local leaders have hailed the project as “transformational,” some residents have raised concerns at public meetings about traffic, noise, water usage, and other impacts. Company and parish officials continue to provide assurances and engage with the community.

The Delta Forge 1 project strengthens Louisiana’s position in the AI infrastructure boom, joining other large-scale investments by companies like Meta and Amazon in the state. Further details on specific tenants and additional phases are expected as construction progresses.