Meta Platforms has hired an El Paso political insider as its El Paso community engagement manager to help build trust in the company's huge, 1 gigawatt data center complex rising in far Northeast El Paso.
Meta officials are trying to reverse backlash from the public and politicians
about its complex due to concerns over electricity and water consumption, and multimillion-dollar tax breaks – something seen with data centers nationwide.Lauren Zimmerman, former campaign manager for El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson and manager for three of U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar's election campaigns, will now lead Meta's community relations in El Paso.
"Lauren has spent her entire career building coalitions and delivering results for El Paso, and she knows this city
in a way no one from the outside could," Wade Lairsen, Meta's company-wide director of community engagement, said in a statement. "Having someone with her roots and her track record leading our community work here means we'll be a better neighbor from the start."
In her job, Zimmerman will guide Meta's regional project development and foster community partnerships, according to Meta information.
Zimmerman most recently was fundraising director for the foundations of the University Medical Center of El Paso and the El Paso Children’s Hospital. She held the job of director of development for the foundations from June 2025 until September 2026.
Meta, operator of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been using a barrage of commercials on TV and social media platforms in its effort to improve the image of its El Paso, $14 billion data center complex.
In July, Meta sold 80% ownership in its El Paso data centerto funds managed by BlackRock, a New York investment firm, and is leasing the complex from BlackRock with an initial four-year term and four extension options.
Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421;vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on X, and @vkolenc.bsky.socialon Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meta hires El Paso political insider to build data center trust
