Indiana Lands Meta $10B Data Center, 5,700 Jobs Committed in February 2026
Why It Matters for Steel Warehouse
The Meta $10B data center campus at LEAP is a multi-year **structural steel, electrical conduit, and mechanical systems demand driver** directly in Steel Warehouse's backyard. Data center construction is among the most steel-intensive construction project types per square foot — requiring structural beams, decking, racking systems, conduit, and mechanical support steel throughout. At peak, 4,000+ construction workers on this single project represent sustained demand for fabricators and distributors serving the LEAP campus. The broader IEDC February wins signal Indiana is actively attracting large-scale industrial and technology investment — each new manufacturing facility (like Hanjung in Huntington) is a potential future steel-consuming customer within Steel Warehouse's service territory. Lock Joint Tube's structural tubing products are directly applicable to data center rack and mechanical support applications.First reported: 2026-03-08 Section: S — State & Local Policy / Regional Watch
Indiana's economic development machine delivered a banner February 2026, with Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announcing investments totaling 5,700+ new committed jobs across advanced manufacturing, defense, life sciences, and technology. The flagship announcement: Meta Platforms Inc. broke ground on a more than $10 billion data center campus at Lebanon's LEAP Innovation and Research District — one of the largest private-sector investments in Indiana history. The campus is expected to support approximately 300 permanent high-wage operational jobs and 4,000+ construction jobs at peak activity.
Additional February IEDC wins include: - Hanjung America (South Korean advanced manufacturer): First U.S. operation in Huntington, IN — 300+ new jobs in energy storage manufacturing. IEDC committed up to $4.5M in tax credits plus $400K HBI tax credits and $200K training grants. - NewCold: $500M+ investment in a third phase of expansion at its existing Indiana facility — 350 construction jobs and 200+ permanent positions - Saica Group: Groundbreaking on a corrugated plant in Anderson, IN — $110M+ investment, 100+ jobs, opening late 2026
The LEAP Innovation and Research District in Lebanon, Indiana (Boone County) is located approximately 45 miles south of Steel Warehouse's South Bend headquarters — well within Steel Warehouse's primary service territory.
Sources
- Indiana is Open for Business: February's Jobs and Wages Wins — WBIW
- South Korea-Based Hanjung America Plans Huntington, Indiana Manufacturing — Area Development
- Indiana's Economic Road Map for 2026 — Grant County Economic Growth Council
Update — 2026-03-08
Initial entry — story first created. Meta $10B LEAP campus is 45 miles from SW HQ — Tier 1 construction steel demand opportunity. Monitor project procurement for direct supply opportunities.