EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso city staff on Monday outlined a proposed framework for a community agreement tied to Meta’s planned data center investment, including potential projects in workforce development, water conservation, energy efficiency and neighborhood support.
The update, presented during the El Paso City Council work session, follows a June 23 council directive for staff to develop a community agreement and regional framework connected to Meta’s potential investment in the region.
City staff said two technical work sessions hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso have already been held, focusing on infrastructure — including energy and water — and community support, such as workforce and neighborhood programs.
Participants included the city, El Paso County, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, El Paso Community College, UTEP, El Paso Electric, El Paso Water and Meta.
The proposal calls for establishing a replenishing annual community investment fund with oversight from regional stakeholders and implementing entities. However, staff said Meta has not yet identified a specific El Paso funding allocation, commitment, timeline or mechanism.
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Meta recently announced its national “Future Is for Everyone Fund,” a $1 billion initiative intended to support communities where it develops artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Mayor Renard Johnson has sent a letter to Meta requesting an equitable share for El Paso based on the scale of the company’s local investment, according to the presentation.
Potential early projects identified by staff include expanding workforce training and career and technical education programs, weatherization and cool-roof initiatives, public-facility energy efficiency upgrades, water conservation and aquifer-recharge projects, neighborhood mini-grants, air-quality monitoring and expansion of the 915 TreeKeepers program.
The workforce proposal would also seek to hire and train El Pasoans first for Meta’s stated 300 permanent positions.
Staff said the framework should prioritize projects that can produce measurable results within one to two years and build on existing regional programs instead of creating duplicate initiatives.
Meta has agreed to coordinate or conduct eight community meetings this fall — one in each City Council district — to gather public feedback and provide information about the El Paso data center, according to the presentation.
Before returning to council with a proposed community agreement, staff said it needs more information from Meta about how investments would be distributed and administered, expected outcomes, timelines, performance measures and public-accountability requirements.
A Meta spokesperson said: “We know that communities know their needs best and we look forward to hearing from community leaders and working together to create customized investments and programs through the open call, which is now open to new ideas.”
Meta says applications for funding are open until Oct. 6. To apply click here.
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