How a Louisiana farming town became a hub for Meta's data center workers

The Crawfords, former nursing professionals who became empty nesters in 2024, recognized that the local housing market was ill-equipped for the sudden demand. By founding Parish Line Properties, they transformed their vision into reality, operating 18 homes—14 of which are dedicated to the influx of contractors and electricians working on the Meta site. Their mobile home park, Antley Pines, saw every unit secured by deposits before the project even opened in December 2025.

This shift highlights the broader tension surrounding massive infrastructure projects in rural America. While some residents remain wary of environmental impacts and grid strain, others view the development as a rare opportunity to curb the migration of local talent to oil rigs or distant cities. The Crawfords have maintained a strict policy against raising rents for long-term local tenants, choosing instead to focus on the transient workforce that prioritizes proximity to the site to manage grueling 12-hour shifts.

With monthly rents for furnished units reaching $3,000—nearly double the pre-Meta market rate—the economic ripple effect is visible throughout the parish. Beyond their own properties, the Crawfords launched StayNELA, a platform designed to catalog the informal rental market that traditional sites like Realtor.com often miss. As construction continues, the couple remains pragmatic about the future. They view the current surge as a building block for the community, confident that the infrastructure they are creating today will remain viable long after the last contractor packs up and leaves.