Applied Digital to develop $3.6 billion AI factory campus in Central Louisiana
Type: Development · Technology: Data Center · Country: United States · Value: $3.6B · Announced: 2026-05-28
Applied Digital Corp. announced plans to develop Delta Forge 1, a $3.6 billion artificial intelligence (AI) factory campus in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, marking a major expansion in the region's digital infrastructure. The facility is purpose-built for large-scale AI training and inference workloads, with initial operations expected to begin in mid-2027. The project will create over 1,000 construction jobs at peak and directly support 200 full-time, on-site jobs with salaries 150% of the state average wage. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will generate an additional 218 indirect jobs, totaling 418 potential new job opportunities in Central Louisiana. Site development began in January 2026, positioning the state as a key hub for AI infrastructure development.
Analysis
Applied Digital Corp. announced plans on May 28, 2026, to develop Delta Forge 1, a $3.6 billion AI factory campus in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Applied Digital operates digital infrastructure solutions and cloud services for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence industries in North America. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will generate 418 potential new job opportunities in Central Louisiana. Initial operations for the facility are expected to begin in mid-2027, with site development having started in January 2026.
Key points
- Applied Digital Corp. announced a $3.6 billion AI factory campus.
- The project is located in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
- Initial operations are expected to begin in mid-2027.
- The project will create 200 full-time, on-site jobs.
- Site development began in January 2026.
Counterparties
- Louisiana Economic Development (Government)
- Rapides Parish (Government)
- Applied Digital (Developer)