Meta's $5B Boost to Lebanon Promises Major Growth

Source: WISH-TV / other

INDIANAPOLIS — Lebanon is on the brink of an economic boost, according to Mayor Matt Gentry, who calls Meta’s nearly $5 billion investment in the LEAP District a game-changer for the community. The project, he says, promises to create a hub for advanced manufacturing, research, and data centers.

“People who live in Lebanon are very supportive of LEAP; they see the potential for their families,” Gentry told WIBC’s Tony Katz. “Certainly, a lot of the resistance comes from people in the rural areas surrounding Lebanon.”

Concerns about the LEAP District include the loss of farmland, increased traffic, and environmental impacts. Some locals fear the project could disrupt agriculture, cause traffic jams, and harm the environment.

Forty-three landowners own 122 parcels west of Interstate 65 in Boone County for Lebanon’s LEAP District.

While many landowners support the project and are pushing for annexation, some oppose it or have yet to agree to sell. Gentry acknowledged that poor communication in the early stages caused friction with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

“I agree with that, and I’ve shared my thoughts with the IEDC,” Gentry said. “Over time, we’ve figured out that Lebanon is a community that does need opportunity. Lebanon is not Zionsville. We have kids who rely on free or reduced lunches. We have families who need better-paying jobs.”

Meta has pledged to pay Lebanon $1.5 million annually for each phase of the LEAP District project, with those funds supporting local initiatives like quality-of-life improvements.

Gentry explained the LEAP District’s vision: to assemble and zone land, prepare infrastructure, and lay the groundwork to show the area is ready for business.

“Laying the groundwork is something that dozens of other states do,” he added.