Let's Talk Commercial Development

There’s been a lot of talk about Eagle Mountain’s commercial development—and especially about Meta. Some are asking whether it was worth it.

Let’s walk through the facts, together.

Meta’s data center wasn’t just a shiny groundbreaking—it brought over $1.5 billion in construction to our community. At its peak, the project employed over 1,200 skilled workers. Today, it supports 200–300 long-term, high-paying tech jobs, with salaries ranging from $110,000 to $190,000 a year. These jobs go to real people—many of them your neighbors—who live and work right here in Eagle Mountain.

That’s real money staying in our community. That’s real opportunity.

Eagle Mountain is one of the fastest-growing cities in Utah. But responsible growth requires more than rooftops. It requires jobs, businesses, and a tax base that can support the infrastructure and services our residents depend on. The Meta project helped lay that foundation in a powerful way.

In fact, in 2023 alone, more than 300 new businesses were created in Eagle Mountain. That kind of entrepreneurial momentum doesn’t happen by accident. The positive impact of Meta’s presence on local commercial development is profound—and in many ways, incalculable.

Here’s what that growth means for you:

Less burden on your residential taxes

More funding for roads, utilities, schools, and public safety

Infrastructure upgrades that attract employers and improve services

The numbers speak for themselves. Before Meta began development, the property it now occupies generated just $6 per year in property tax to Eagle Mountain City, and $42 per year to Alpine School District.

In 2023, that same land generated:

$95,009.64 to Eagle Mountain City — a 1,580,000% increase

$1,000,502.24 to Alpine School District — a 2,300,000% increase

That’s a major shift in our city’s financial foundation—without putting more strain on residents.

We’re proud of the work we’ve done to help relieve families’ property tax burden. Through responsible economic partnerships, we’ve shifted a large portion of the tax load to commercial contributors—ensuring growth pays its own way.

Incentives That Worked

I understand that “incentives” can sound like giveaways. But Eagle Mountain’s agreements with Meta were designed with strict benchmarks and real benefits.

Here’s what those agreements delivered:

-Over $120 million invested in roads and utilities

-Extension of water, sewer, electrical, and fiber lines to their site

-Construction of roadways and utility corridors that now also serve future development

-$200,000 invested in water restoration and a pledge to restore 200% of water usage

-$4.5 million in donations to local causes—supporting parks (like Walden Park Observatory), schools (Cedar Valley HS Freight Farm, Christa McAuliffe Space Center), and nonprofits through Community Action Grants

This isn’t charity. This is a long-term investment with visible, lasting returns for our community.

Clearing the Air on Energy: What We Actually Approved

Lately, rumors have been pushed, but let's review what the city actually approved in development agreements:

Here’s what the city actually approved in development agreements:

Solar energy generation

Battery backup storage

Natural gas power generation

We need to pursue all kinds of clean energy. The safety of our nation and our children’s future depends on looking seriously at how to power our homes, our businesses, and our local economy—safely and sustainably.

These are practical, reliable steps to ensure we meet the energy needs of a growing city—with full transparency, public input, and environmental review.

You can always verify what’s true by visiting the city’s official Rumor Stop page.

What We’re Building Together

Here’s what responsible reinvestment looks like—and what’s already happening in our city:

Roads and utility lines constructed by Meta now serve as critical infrastructure for future growth

Water and sewer capacity has been significantly expanded

Broadband and electrical infrastructure has been extended to underserved areas, laying the foundation for additional employers

This is what responsible growth looks like—visible, planned, and community-centered.

Let’s talk, I'm listening

Transparency, accountability, and service are my guiding principles.

What questions do you have about Eagle Mountain’s growth, energy planning, or incentive policies?

What kind of investment do you want to see next in our city?

I'm here to listen, lead with facts, and always put our community first.