Meta Pledges $8 Million to Piqua for Emergency Services Equipment, Personnel; Is Company Behind Data Center Project
Information from the City of Piqua
PIQUA - Meta pledged $8 million to replace emergency services equipment and support additional personnel, among other economic commitments, as part of its proposal to build a data center in the City of Piqua, as outlined in a letter to City Commissioners this week.
Meta Economic Development Director Richie Kurtzman writes, the grant award represents “an investment to support the people who serve the community and contribute to the quality of life of Piqua's residents.”
In the statement provided by Meta, the company says it “sees real opportunity in Piqua — and upon the project moving forward, we'd back the region with a $1 billion direct investment and a commitment to its long-term vitality. For more than a decade, we've learned that investment only matters when the people living alongside a project feel the benefit. That's why we'd work hand-in-hand with residents and local leaders to understand what Piqua needs and build lasting opportunities from there.”
Rick Byron, City of Piqua safety services director and interim city manager, said the investment represents a significant investment in the City’s equipment and personnel that make community protection through police, fire and emergency medical services possible.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the City, particularly at a time when our public safety departments have significant equipment and operational needs,” Byron said. “Having the ability to address some of those needs without relying solely on the City’s existing resources will make a meaningful difference for our police and fire departments and, ultimately, the residents we serve.”
Fire Chief Lee Adams expressed gratitude for the opportunity to maintain and replace fire trucks and ambulances that are near the end of service.
“This influx of additional funds to supplement, not supplant, local income tax dollars will afford the City the opportunity to catch up with capital replacement needs that are overdue,” Adams said. “I look forward to a combined operations, personnel and capital budget for calendar year 2027 that will maintain all of our current expenditures as well as to allow for much needed major purchases. While the physical construction of the vehicles is still expected to take several years to complete, the availability of the funding now means the process starts immediately following the approval of the City Commission.”
Acting Police Chief Dave Thomas said the funding will allow the Piqua Police Department to upgrade systems and training resources for officers.
“This investment into the security and future of Piqua will provide an opportunity for the development and modernization for our emergency services that we would otherwise not have and will help us to provide better, more efficient service to our community,” Thomas said. “At the same time, these investments will increase our ability to do our jobs more safely and proficiently.”
Meta recently launched the Future is for Everyone Fund, a $1 billion commitment to invest directly in U.S communities where it owns and operates data centers. If the project is approved, Piqua would be included. The fund builds on Meta’s existing and direct giving programs, which have provided more than $75 million to schools, nonprofits and community organizations in Meta data center communities since 2011.
Kurtzman shared that Meta will continue to engage regularly with elected officials and community stakeholders to build partnerships and programs that reflect the priorities of Piqua.
