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FPO Facebook, Fort Worth get ‘into a relationship’ Landing Facebook’s $1 billion data center at AllianceTexas involved a close working partnership between the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development team and all participating government entities. Here’s the anatomy of what it takes for the Chamber to help land a deal like this.
2014
Early July n David Berzina, executive vice
president of the Chamber’s Economic Development department, receives an emailed Request for Proposal (RFP) from the governor’s office. n The RFP involves a projSTAR-TELEGRAM ect identified Berzina: “This was the most secretive as “Noble,” selection process which is lookI’ve ever seen.” ing in numerous states for an infrastructureready, 130-acre site for three data centers, each totaling 250,000 square feet and investment of at least $750 million. Site requirements include detailed dual water and dual power capacities and capabilities. n Chamber submits real estate request to their brokerage network. The only suitable 130-acre site in Fort Worth is located at AllianceTexas. n The Chamber’s Erica Estrada completes the RFP.
2015
July 22 n The RFP is filed with the governor’s office.
August n Project name becomes Project Ernst. Ernst representatives visit Fort Worth for the first time. Officials of transmission provider Oncor give representatives a tour and explore the proposed site and other priorities. n Ernst also visits two other cities in the Metroplex. n Ernst meets with City of Fort Worth officials, the Chamber and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County officials regarding requirements in areas such as land, water, utilities, incentives and labor market. Ernst representatives do not divulge their last names nor do they have business cards. They use temporary email addresses. Their Caller ID reads “Withheld.”
January n Ernst further nar-
March-May n Ernst emphasizes that cultural
rows the field of candidate cities and conducts around 12 independent scouting visits to Fort Worth.
amenities and quality of life such as Fort Worth’s are “musts” in their efforts to recruit and retain top talent. n Estrada gives Ernst representatives a tour of downtown Fort Worth, including the Sundance Square Plaza. n During the 84th Legislature, the Chamber advocates for HB2712 exempting large data centers over 250,000 square feet from state and local sales tax for 20 years. Key support comes from Rep. Charlie Geren and Sen. Kelly Hancock. n Ernst tells the City, County and Chamber that Fort Worth’s incentives are less than other finalists’. The City stands firm on its offer.
February n A series of conference calls begins between Ernst, the City, County and Chamber to discuss Ernst priorities and details.
Feb. 17 n Ernst representatives outline the deal they want in a meeting with Mayor Betsy Price, City officials and the Chamber.
Early spring n Berzina arranges a face-to-face meeting for Ernst with Clay County Judge Kenneth Liggett to explore aspects of a wind farm. Ernst wants to make sure that residents would accept the wind farm, which would supply all power to their project.
FACEBOOK
“Data centers are the new steel factories.”
-- Ross Perot, Jr., chairman of Hillwood Development, which includes Hillwood Properties, developer of AllianceTexas
September-December n The Chamber brokers participation in the informationgathering process from Tarrant County, Tarrant Regional Water District, City water planners and other entities. n The Ernst reps are encouraged to stay at the Omni Hotel downtown to experience the Central Business District, its walkability and amenities. n Project Ernst analyzes RFPs, narrows candidate cities to a field of 20-25 cities. n After meeting Project Ernst’s team at the Hillwood site, a county official conducts gumshoe work on another social media platform and connects the name Ernst and “data center” with a Facebook representative. n Environmental studies of the site begin.
FACEBOOK
Facebook’s Fort Worth data center will be the world’s most environmentally friendly complex. Its three buildings at AllianceTexas will house many thousands of servers as part of expanded capabilities to serve 1.5 billion users worldwide and to meet heavy future demand.
10-year tax abatement for Ernst.
Over the next 20 years, Facebook’s Fort Worth Data Center Fort Worth will receive $48.5 million in taxes 114 because of the massive value of equipment on Fort Worth 35W site and will require little Alliance Airport in the way of infrastructure spending. Northwest 170 377 ISD will receive $150 million in property taxes. The County will receive $30 million.
June 10 n Gov. Abbott signs HB2712,
July 6 n Facebook launches a Fort Worth Data Center Facebook
which goes into effect immediately. The measure secures millions of dollars in tax savings for Facebook, Berzina says, which buys more than $100 million in software and hardware every two years.
page after a governor’s media advisory and news reports confirm that “Ernst” is Facebook.
May 19 n The Fort Worth City Council approves for Ernst $146.7 million in incentives up to 20 years.
May 26 n Tarrant County approves a
SOURCE: Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
FPO
Independence Pkwy
Park Vista Blvd.
July 7 n Ground is broken for Facebook’s project at the 110-acre AllianceTexas site. DESIGN: Broc Sears/Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
