When Facebook decided to build a $750 million data center in Huntsville, the social media giant didn't need a lot of convincing to come to Alabama.

That translates into meaning that Facebook didn't need a bevy of financial incentives to bring the project to the Rocket City.

The vast majority of incentives from the state of Alabama is $86.25 million in an investment credit that's a part of the Alabama Jobs Act available to any company. Beyond that, AIDT - the state's workforce development agency - has committed to providing services and support valued at $710,000.

"They did not ask for a lot of incentives," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. "In fact, they looked and said, 'Hey, we want to buy our land. We want to make sure we're a good neighbor and we are a good partner in your community.' Very refreshing after all the different ones we've been through."

The city of Huntsville is kicking in $6.6 million in indirect incentives, some of which will benefit the entire North Huntsville Industrial Park - the site of the Facebook data center.

That includes utility extensions, a water booster station in the park to improve water pressure, the resurfacing of one road and widening another within the park.

Facebook's biggest benefit is the waiving of permitting fees, a $2 million value.

Facebook purchased the 340 acres where it will build its data center for $8.5 million and holds an option to buy 203 more acres at the same rate -- $25,000 per acre.

Shane Davis, the city of Huntsville's director of urban and economic development, told the city council last month that Facebook was "unique" in wanting to purchase the land rather than receiving it as an incentive.

Meanwhile, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA - which is building a $1.6 billion plant with a minimum of 4,000 jobs in west Huntsville - received about $800 million in incentives primarily from the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville.

The big numbers associated with dollar signs in the Facebook deal instead focus on benefits the state expects to receive from the project.

An analysis by the Alabama Department of Commerce estimates that the financial benefits of the project over 30 years as:

Cumulative new payroll of $537 million, which includes constructions jobs as well as permanent Facebook jobs.

Total revenues from the project of $297 million - which breaks down to $144.2 million for the state, $88.7 million for Madison County and $64.4 million for Huntsville.

And a return on investment to the state of 51 percent.

Davis told the city council when it approved the project development agreement last month that the 20-year return on investment for Huntsville would be $165 million.

Construction on the data center is expected to begin soon and the facility is scheduled to be operational by 2020.