Tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is advancing plans for a massive multi-phase data center campus in the LEAP Innovation & Research District near Lebanon. The project, known as “Project Domino,” would represent one of the largest single corporate investments in Boone County history.
We’re talking a multi-billion-dollar scope.
The scale of the development is significant. In its first phase, Meta plans to invest $800 million to construct four buildings. That phase is expected to create about 80 full-time jobs with an average wage of $36 per hour. If fully built out across six phases, the campus could cover 1,400 to 1,500 acres and carry a total price tag of $4–4.8 billion. Long-term plans include a series of data center facilities, along with a network building, a logistics warehouse, and an administrative building.
The development comes with significant infrastructure requirements. Meta has requested up to 3 million gallons of water per day in phased service, along with 1.5 million gallons of wastewater capacity daily between 2027 and 2031.
In exchange for tax abatements—50% off real property taxes for 10 years and 100% off personal property taxes for 35 years—Meta has agreed to pay an annual community impact fee of about $1.5 million. The project is also expected to generate roughly $80 million in property tax revenue over 15 years.
So what is next for the Lebanon community with this data center?
The Lebanon Planning Commission recently issued a favorable recommendation for the project. The proposal now moves to the Lebanon City Council for a final vote. As of August 2025, Meta’s site plan has expanded to include 15 total buildings, including 12 dedicated to data storage and three additional facilities for network operations, logistics, and administration.
If approved, Project Domino will cement Lebanon’s role as a growing hub in the Midwest’s data center boom, while raising ongoing questions about water usage, infrastructure capacity, and long-term community impact.
Indiana is rapidly becoming a major hub for data centers, with several proposed locations slated for development by 2025. Depending on who you speak with, the number could be near 50 being proposed all over the Hoosier state. Key proposals include multiple projects in Hobart, where both Hobart Devco and Wylie Capital plan new facilities. In Merrillville, Karis Critical and Province Group are also eyeing expansion opportunities, alongside Wylie Capital. Other notable projects consist of Microsoft’s facilities in LaPorte and Granger, and Amazon’s presence in Portage and New Carlisle. Additionally, Indianapolis is set to welcome a Google data center in Wanamaker, while Meta has proposed projects in Lebanon and Jeffersonville. Locations from various developers span across the state, including significant plans in Michigan City, Elletsville, and Fort Wayne. With dozens of unnamed projects in the pipeline, Indiana’s data center footprint continues to grow, reflecting the increasing demand for digital infrastructure.
It’s not always a “done deal”.
In April 2025, the Kosciusko County Commissioners unanimously voted against a proposal to rezone over 500 acres of prime farmland in Leesburg for the development of a data center. This decision was made in response to considerable opposition from local residents and the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission.
The rezoning request aimed to convert essential agricultural land into industrial use to accommodate a planned data center by Prologis, a logistics company. The proposal included the construction of ten buildings intended for cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. Nevertheless, the proposal faced substantial resistance from the community. During the Area Plan Commission meeting on April 2, more than 100 residents attended, many expressing significant concerns regarding the potential impacts on local agriculture, quality of life, and the rural character of the area. Community members articulated fears about persistent light and noise pollution, as well as possible environmental degradation. One resident highlighted the necessity of preserving farmland for future generations and questioned the relevance of the data center project within their community.
Commissioners listened at the public hearing.
On April 22, the Kosciusko County Commissioners conducted a public meeting to deliberate on the rezoning request. Commissioner Bob Conley stated that the proposed location was “not a reasonable and prudent location,” reflecting the concerns raised by the community. The commissioners voted unanimously to deny the rezoning proposal, aligning with the earlier recommendation of the Area Plan Commission. Although the developers retain the option to appeal this decision or present a revised proposal, community residents are poised to remain vigilant.
“Commitment to agriculture”
The decision clearly underscores the community’s commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage and rural lifestyle. Residents have organized to monitor future proposals actively, thereby ensuring that any development undertaken aligns with the county’s values and long-term interests. This collective vigilance serves to protect the community’s unique rural character and agricultural resources.
Frankfort community is now gearing up for a battle.
Closer to home, Logistix Realty has made a strategic decision to redirect its proposed mega-data center project from the city of Frankfort to the authorities in Clinton County.
On July 25, the developer withdrew its rezoning request for approximately 833 acres from the Frankfort City Plan Commission and has resubmitted it for review at the county level. This proactive shift is expected to result in only a slight delay, with the potential for groundbreaking activities to commence in late spring or early summer of 2026, should the county grant approval. The development plan is designed to create a campus featuring seven buildings, encompassing over 7 million square feet, which will meet energy demands exceeding 300 megawatts. Developers say this would generate approximately 350 permanent jobs and more than 1,000 temporary construction roles, thereby contributing to the local economy.
Furthermore, Frankfort’s utility providers have issued a non-binding “will serve” letter, indicating their potential support for providing water and power, although discussions are ongoing to finalize specifics. Mayor Judy Sheets has noted that the site is situated within a county-controlled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, which enables the city to engage in future discussions on rezoning once annexation occurs. While a petition for annexation has not yet been filed, the process could offer a constructive path forward for collaboration between city and county authorities.
Local “No Data Center” organizers very active.
While data centers have come under fire for heavy use of power, water and resources, many of the concerns local protesters have expressed focus on issues about data centers being in their backyards, such as concerns about noise, light, vibrations and property values. Clinton County resident Tammy Danner has ordered over 90 “No Data Center” signs and says she always runs out with requests for more. Other local organizers against the proposal plan to show up in full force at any future public hearings.
Should a petition be submitted, the Frankfort Common Council would conduct a public hearing to ensure community input before making any decisions related to rezoning.
Data centers are essentially the physical location of the “cloud” and they appear to be very interested in Indiana long term. Jones Lang LaSalle, a Chicago-based global real estate firm, reports that data center developers already have acquired more than 3,000 acres of land and are likely to build more than $30 billion worth of data centers in Northwest Indiana in the coming years, as soon as NIPSCO can bring enough new electric capacity online.