Eagle Mountain Welcomes Meta’s Deepened Community Investment
City leaders applaud data center expansion and new funding for schools
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — Meta is donating $600,000 to help Lake Mountain School District acquire three acres for a future K-6 elementary school — becoming the first private business to fund the permanent foundation of a district campus — along with $450,000 toward the Walden Park Observatory, bringing its total commitment to the astronomy project to $700,000. Eagle Mountain City and Meta announced the donations in an event last week alongside Meta’s confirmation of its expansion of the Eagle Mountain Data Center, an investment that brings the company’s total capital investment in Utah to more than $3 billion.
“This is a company that showed up here eight years ago and has kept its commitments to us since,” said Jared Gray, Mayor of Eagle Mountain. “Meta’s presence has meant real money for our schools, real improvements to our roads and water systems, and good jobs for people who live here. This expansion means more investment and opportunities for shared success — and it means Eagle Mountain continues to be a place where families can build a future.”
New investments in Eagle Mountain schools and public spaces
The two new contributions to the community are part of Meta’s Future is for Everyone Fund, a $1 billion commitment to U.S. communities Meta calls home.
- $600,000 for a future elementary school site. Meta’s donation will allow Lake Mountain School District to acquire three acres designated for future K–6 elementary school construction — making Meta the first private business to fund the permanent foundation of a district campus. As Eagle Mountain continues to grow, securing land ahead of demand is one of the district’s most pressing challenges.
- $450,000 for the Walden Park Observatory. The donation will help fund construction of Eagle Mountain’s future observatory at Walden Park, bringing Meta’s total investment in the project to $700,000. Once complete, the park will give Eagle Mountain families and students a dedicated space for stargazing and hands-on science education.
Meta is also committing $1.5 million to the Lake Mountain Education Foundation, and an ongoing annual contribution of $50,000 to support initiatives that directly enhance student learning experiences, including early childhood literacy – a foundational priority for Lake Mountain School District.
What the expansion means for Eagle Mountain
- Funding for local schools and services. The data center is anticipated to be among the City’s largest property taxpayers, supporting local school districts, public safety and city services.
- Jobs for local families. The expansion is expected to support approximately 1,200 construction jobs at peak, with more than 300 operational roles once complete — the majority filled from Utah County and surrounding communities.
- Water restoration projects in our local watershed. Meta’s investment in three water restoration projects has returned more than 726 million gallons to the local watershed. Projects include the Provo River Flow Restoration, Hobble Creek Flow Restoration and a partnership with the City to repurpose a portion of the water from Meta’s server cooling systems to irrigate Cory Wride Memorial Park, a significant recreational area for the community, improving reliability for residents and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
- Direct community investment. Meta has contributed more than $6.2 million to local schools and organizations — including hydroponics programs at Cedar Valley High School, Alpine School District’s Christa McAuliffe Space Center, and the Small Business Launchpad at the Valley Crossroads Chamber of Commerce. Meta has also contributed $4.85 million to the City’s Affordable Housing Fund, helping support programs like mortgage assistance for 66 local families.
- New energy added to the grid. As Meta grows in Utah, it is adding new power to the grid including wind, solar, battery storage and natural gas. The newest addition is the Faraday Energy Storage project, a 150-megawatt battery facility owned and operated by Lydian Energy that will support the Eagle Mountain Data Center. Faraday can store power and release it when the grid needs it most. It comes online later this year.
- Commitment to clean energy: Meta remains committed to matching its operations with 100% clean and renewable energy, and to date, has supported 600MWh of storage, and 1.7 GW of clean and renewable energy from 13 projects across Utah.
“We are thrilled Meta’s expansion gives us the opportunity to continue working in Eagle Mountain,” said Steve Knighton, Vice President, General Manager of Data Center Solutions, Mortenson. “This is our community. We’ve seen the prosperity this work has brought to Eagle Mountain over the past 8 years and are excited to see more.”
“This partnership is an extraordinary investment in the future of Lake Mountain students,” said Julie King, President of the Lake Mountain School District Board of Education. “The $600,000 land grant helps us plan responsibly for the tremendous growth in our community, while the $1.5 million commitment to the Lake Mountain Education Foundation will help us invest directly in students and the opportunities available to them. Meta is not simply investing in a school district-they are investing in the children, families, and future of this community. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and their belief in what our students can accomplish.”
“Eagle Mountain is one of the fastest-growing communities in Utah, and Meta has been a partner here for more than eight years, investing millions in roads, water systems and grid upgrades that serve every resident,” said Utah State Representative Stephanie Gricius. “Today they are going further, helping the school district acquire land for future elementary schools before rising costs put it out of reach – a first for a private business in this district. Building ahead of need is how you keep growth from becoming a burden on families.”
“For more than eight years, Meta has been proud to call Eagle Mountain home,” said David Williams, Community Engagement Manager at Meta. “The city and its people have been incredible partners — from the families and workforce who live and work here, to the small businesses and nonprofits across the community who have helped us build responsibly. This expansion is a commitment to Eagle Mountain for years to come.”