Meta storefront at the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center offers glimpse inside the company's Newton Data Center, providing insight into how a data center works and career opportunities

ATLANTA — Meta (formerly the Facebook company) has provided a $385,000 grant to Junior Achievement of Georgia to support the interactive JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center, a powerful educational experience for middle school students to learn about the vibrant business community in the state.

The JA Discovery Center, located at the Georgia World Congress Center, provides an authentic environment where middle school students experience their futures firsthand. Through JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, more than 36,000 students a year have the opportunity to bring in-class learning to life and to find out what it’s like to run a business and manage a household budget.

"We are thrilled to have Meta as a storefront in our JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center," said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia. "Our students will benefit from learning more about Meta, and about the important role data centers play in technology and the explosive growth of renewable energy across the state. Partners like Meta help us bring learning to life and to make the JA Discovery Center experience authentic and relevant."

Meta announced its Newton Data Center in Georgia’s Stanton Springs community (Newton, Walton, Jasper and Morgan counties) in 2018. Upon completion, the nearly 2.4 million-square-foot campus will represent more than a $1 billion investment in the state of Georgia. It operates 100% with renewable energy. 

“Meta is proud to be part of this powerful educational opportunity for middle schoolers across the state,” said Katie Comer, Community Development Regional Manager for Meta. “They can come see firsthand how different businesses operate and what career opportunities may exist for them. It’s an especially important chance for Meta to show them how our data center—right here in Georgia—is part of the global infrastructure that supports apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Meta Quest and Facebook."

Because of Meta’s donation, middle-school students from its Newton Data Center community in Walton County will visit the space in May. This partnership will also extend the potential impact to surrounding Newton, Jasper and Morgan counties.

The Meta space features:

• A conference room styled like a Meta office

• Mock servers that light up to showcase how Meta data centers serve as the infrastructure backbone that powers apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Meta Quest

• Job profiles that show the various types of positions at the Newton Data Center

• Local art, a trademark of Meta offices, giving the space the look and feel of a real Meta office

In addition to hosting middle-school students, the interactive space will be used to host Boost workshops, which teach small businesses how to leverage the Meta apps to be successful.

The Meta storefront joins Georgia-based companies including AT&T, Bank of America, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines and Equifax.

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. Learn more about Meta's data center in Newton at www.facebook.com/NewtonDataCenter.