EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso City officials presented several priorities Monday, Sept.14 for a possible community agreement with Meta as construction continues on the company’s massive data center in Northeast El Paso.
The presentation came after City Council directed staff in June to work with Meta and regional partners on an agreement that could bring additional benefits to the community.
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One priority would be hiring and training El Pasoans for the 300 permanent positions Meta says the facility will create.
City staff also identified several possible projects Meta could support, including workforce training, residential weatherization, energy-efficiency upgrades at public facilities, water conservation, neighborhood grants, air-quality monitoring and an expansion of the 915 TreeKeepers program.
Those projects remain ideas, and Meta has not committed to funding or implementing them.
Separately, Meta has created the $1 billion nationwide Future Is for Everyone Fund to support communities where it operates or is developing data centers.
Local governments, nonprofit organizations, school districts and universities are eligible to apply, meaning El Paso could receive a portion of the money. However, no funding is guaranteed, and Meta has not committed to a specific allocation for El Paso.
“We just learned at about 1 a.m. what the parameters of the projects will be,” El Paso City Manager Dionne Mack said. “And so the team will be working to come back in two weeks, and we’ll be able to get council’s approval on the projects that we would submit to that process.”
City staff has proposed creating a replenishing annual community investment fund that would allow organizations to apply for funding each year. Staff also recommended involving regional partners and stakeholders in determining which projects should be prioritized.
Community members have also urged Meta to be more transparent about the data center’s impact, including its expected use of water and electricity.
City officials said Meta has agreed to coordinate eight community meetings this fall, with one planned in each City Council district. Dates have not been announced.
“Now the community has an opportunity to meet with Meta, share those concerns firsthand and help develop this community agreement with the community involved,” District 4 City Rep. Cynthia Boyar Trejo said.
Before returning to council with a proposed agreement, staff said it still needs more information from Meta about how investments would be distributed and administered, along with potential timelines, expected outcomes and accountability requirements.
No action was taken Monday, and a community agreement with Meta has not been finalized.
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