JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Facebook parent company Meta is among several national businesses that are building facilities in the River Ridge area of southern Indiana.
The River Ridge Commerce Center is in a constant state of flux, with ongoing construction projects throughout the area. Currently, crews are in various stages of building or renovating facilities including for the Cheesecake Factory.
In what could be one of the largest construction sites in the state – if not the region – there was no shortage of movement Wednesday at River Ridge. A constant parade of dump trucks and bulldozers are preparing for the arrival of social media giant Meta.
Officials told us River Ridge has 1,600 available acres left - most in the northern part of the commerce center in Charlestown.
"The Meta project is over 600 acres, and there is mass grading going on now," said Jerry Acy, the executive director of the River Ridge Development Authority.
Acy said several more companies will soon call the commerce center home.
A Duke substation is also under construction, between Meta and Canadian Solar. It will help ensure Meta and other businesses have enough power to operate.
Commercial Real Estate developer American Place already has seven buildings in the center.
"I am really glad our property is directly across the street from Meta," said American Place President Lyn Longmeyer. "We made the right decision."
Longmeyer said America Place's newest project calls for a half-million square foot facility -- "13 acres under roof, so it is going to be massive. It's exciting."
Right now there's no tenant for the "spec building," with developers taking a "Field of Dreams" approach: if you build it, they will come.
"This is just the most exciting time and I think people are now realizing it's one community, so Southern Indiana is closer for a lot of people than other areas," Acy said.
In 2023 River Ridge sales and services had a nearly $3 billion impact on Indiana's economy, with 18,000 people working at the companies there.
And Acy said another 3,000 jobs are expected to be created in the next 2-3 years as more companies come online.
"We have plenty of challenges ahead of us, and we look forward to it, but we try to stay ahead of the curve," Acy said.
About 80 people will be employed at the Meta site once it's complete in 2026. The construction of the site involves 1,200 workers.
More Southern Indiana Business News
- Facebook parent Meta to build $800 million data center in Jeffersonville, Indiana
- $800 million solar cell manufacturing facility being built in southern Indiana
- Cheesecake Factory to open $74 million bakery and distribution center in southern Indiana
- Developer's vision for Jeffboat site along Ohio River will take Jeffersonville's past into its future
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