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Lauderdale County joins Compass, MCC in celebrating MEI program launch. Lauderdale County supervisors and other officials joined leaders from the City of Meridian, Meridian Community College and Compass Datacenters on Friday in celebrating the launch of a new Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology Data Center Pathway Program. The 14-week course, which was created by Compass in Red Oak, Texas, is built to take students with no technology background and prepare them for in-demand jobs in the data center industry. "We have a problem with shortage of skilled trades, and not because people aren't available to do the work, it's a shortage of pathways to get there," said Sudhir Kalra, Fellow & Chief Advisor for Data Center Operations, Compass Data Centers. "We're living through a transformational time for the American economy today." Data Centers, like previous innovations such as electricity and railroads, are poised to fundamentally change how Americans live their lives, Kalra said, and the true impact of the Meridian data centers and those who help build them will not be fully known for generations. "In a hundred years, when a lot of us, all of us have come and gone, Meridian Community College will still be training people," he said. "This campus we're building today will still be part of the community, and what we're shorting today is nothing short of phenomenal." Graduates of the Red Oak MEI program have gone on to work at Siemens, Schneider Electric, Salute, CBRE and other industry giants, many of which have since partnered with the program as well. To help launch the MEI program and ensure the opportunity is open for all, Compass is covering 100% of tuition costs for the first 12 cohorts to go through the program at MCC. Lauderdale County Supervisor Josh Todd, who represents District 3 and serves as president of the Board of Supervisors, said much of the focus since Compass announced plans to build a $10 billion data campus in Meridian has focused on the tax revenue and economic impact such a project will bring. The MEI program, however, will transform residents lives by providing well-paying jobs, financial stability and security. "You've changed our trajectory. You've changed the lives or not only us, but my kids' lives, my children. That's what you've done," he said. "And even the people of Lauderdale County don't really grasp it yet because Lauderdalecounty really don't know what's to come. "So, thank you for your partnership. Thank you isn't good enough, but we're going to show you." Meridian Community College is focused on the mission of helping people move forward, whether they be recent high school graduates, workers looking for a second career or simply coming to expand their knowledge. That mission is why MCC leadership was enthusiastic when Compass approached the college about establishing its MEI Data Center Pathway Program in Meridian. MCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner said the demand for workers with the training to work in and around data centers is only growing, and bringing the new program to Meridian will help meet that need. As the first program of its kind in the state, the MEI program will not only be a benefit for Meridian but for the state of Mississippi. "What I love about this program is how accessible it is. You don't need a degree. You don't need previous experience," Huebner said. "You simply need a willingness to learn and the determination to take advantage of an opportunity over 14 weeks." Meridian is known as the Queen City, Mayor Percy Bland said, but the growth, opportunity and momentum in the city and Lauderdale County are far beyond competition in the state. A critical component of that change, he said, is a skilled workforce, and thanks is owed to both Compass and MCC for working to provide just that.

Compass Datacenters and Meridian Community College launch Mississippi's first Data Center workforce training program. MERIDIAN, Miss. - July 31, 2026 - Compass Datacenters and Meridian Community College (MCC) are launching the Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology (MEI) Data Center Pathway Program, creating a data center talent pipeline for residents across Mississippi. The two organizations will mark the program's launch with a two-day event and career fair on July 31 and Aug. 1 at MCC's Riley Workforce Development Center, ahead of the inaugural class beginning this fall. Meeting growing demand for skilled labor in Mississippi. The data center industry faces a shortfall of more than 500,000 skilled trade professionals every year - the people who keep data centers' mechanical, electrical and IT systems running. These shortages are especially challenging in Mississippi, where competition from other large industrial projects makes local workforce development even more urgent. The MEI Pathway Program curriculum helps fill that gap by giving residents hands-on training for essential data center jobs. No degree or prior experience is required. Compass is funding full-tuition scholarships for the inaugural cohort, removing a key barrier for anyone ready to start a career in the field. "We're building the future in Mississippi, and this program is tailor-made to ensure Meridian has the workforce to meet that future," said Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Datacenters. "When we build in a community, we commit to it for the long haul. We aren't just building data centers in Meridian. We're helping create a workforce that will support them for decades to come. The people who live here should have every opportunity to benefit from the growth happening in their backyard, and the MEI Data Center Pathway Program helps make that possible." Training on the same equipment used in modern Data Centers. The 14-week program gives students hands-on experience working with the same equipment used in data centers today. Graduates are well prepared to step into roles across electrical, mechanical and IT infrastructure operations. "Meridian Community College opens doors to provide new opportunities to people from all walks of life," said Dr. Tom Huebner, president of Meridian Community College. "Partnering with Compass Datacenters lets us meet a national industry need with local talent that gives East Mississippians a direct path to career-building jobs. We're proud to be home to the first MEI Data Center Pathway Program cohort in Mississippi." "The data center industry doesn't run on technology alone. It runs on people," said Sudhir Kalra, fellow and chief adviser for data center operations at Compass. "As digital infrastructure demand grows, so does the need for technicians who understand the systems behind it. Programs like the MEI Pathway Program are how we make sure the next generation of technicians is ready. The partnership with MCC gives us the chance to train that workforce in a community that is invested in its own future." Building on a successful Workforce Development model in Texas. The MEI Data Center Pathway Program was founded by Compass in Red Oak, Texas. Now in its second year, the wait-listed training program has already placed graduates with companies including CBRE, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Salute, with many stepping into roles paying 30% to 50% above local median salaries. The program has already expanded from Red Oak to Texas State Technical College's Waco and Abilene campuses. Based on that track record, Compass expects the same strong response from candidates and employers in Mississippi. The MEI Pathway Program will directly support the growing job market for skilled data center technicians in Mississippi, as employers actively recruit for roles across the region to serve the growing data center industry. "Mississippi is competing for and winning the jobs of the future, and workforce development is how we keep that momentum going," said Gov. Tate Reeves. "I thank Compass for investing in our people and our communities, and I applaud Meridian for building excellent programming that helps Mississippi workers participate in the fast-growing digital economy." "This program reaches much further than the city limits," said Josh Todd, president of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors. "Students from anywhere in Lauderdale County will be able to learn skills they can take anywhere in the world, while the tax revenue from the data center campus will have a transformational impact on our roads and bridges, public schools and government services. This is a pivotal moment for Lauderdale County." "This is what transformational economic development looks like," said Mayor Percy Bland III. "Compass isn't just investing in infrastructure, they're investing in the people of Meridian. Through this partnership, we're creating new career opportunities that will strengthen our workforce and our community for generations. We're grateful to Compass Datacenters, Meridian Community College and all our partners." Upon completion, Compass Datacenters' Meridian campus will represent an estimated $10 billion investment, including future tenant equipment. Built to last a century, the campus will support direct and indirect jobs throughout its lifecycle. As a Class A, Community-First developer, Compass is committed to ensuring the economic benefits created by data center development extend to the community for decades. For Meridian, it's a pathway for the community to share directly in the economic benefits a Compass campus brings through generational jobs, workforce training and the partnerships the program creates. About Compass. Compass Datacenters does data centers differently. The company develops and operates sustainable Class A, Community-First campuses guided by a 100-year neighbor philosophy that invests in the workforce, infrastructure and well-being of every community it calls home. Backed by the institutional strength of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Brookfield Infrastructure and KKR, Compass delivers high-quality facilities at speed for the cloud and hyperscale customers driving today's economy. By combining industrialized, prefabricated design with advanced hybrid cooling, responsible water and energy use and zero-waste construction, Compass takes a more sustainable approach to digital infrastructure supporting the company's built-to-last vision. The result is move-in-ready capacity that scales efficiently and responsibly. Data Centers Done Differently. About Meridian Community College. Since its founding in 1937, Meridian Community College continues meeting the diverse educational, workforce and cultural needs of the communities it serves. Serving more than 3,500 students annually, the college offers a comprehensive university transfer program and more than 40 career and technical education programs in business, health education, industrial technology and other high-demand fields. MCC also provides online and hybrid learning, dual education, adult education, workforce training and continuing education opportunities designed to help learners earn credentials, prepare for university transfer, build job-ready skills and pursue lifelong learning. Students also benefit from academic advising, tutoring, support services, student activities and arts and cultural enrichment opportunities that promote success inside and outside the classroom. MCC's main campus is located at 910 Highway 19 North in Meridian, Mississippi. For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.

Compass Datacenters has raised $413 million through asset-backed securities bonds supported by seven operational data centres. The notes were issued in three tranches: Class A-2-I at $295 million, Class A-2-II at $68 million, and Class A-2-III at $50 million. S&P Global Ratings assigned an A rating to the Class A-2-III tranche. The rating was based on a debt service coverage ratio of 1.69x at closing, the lease portfolio's projected performance, and initial liquidity reserves totalling $52 million. Founded in 2011, Compass operates around 16 data centre sites across the US, Europe, and Israel. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquired the company in June 2023 for $5.5 billion.