- Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest $10 billion in constructing two data centre complexes in Mississippi, marking the state’s largest single capital investment.
- This initiative is expected to create at least 1,000 new jobs and leverage the state’s thriving tech industry for economic growth.
- Amazon also commits to supporting education, providing job training, and expanding its renewable energy footprint in Mississippi.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced plans to invest $10 billion in constructing two data centre complexes, marking the largest single capital investment in Mississippi’s history. In collaboration with the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA), AWS aims to establish multiple data centre complexes in two industrial parks in Madison County, creating a projected minimum of 1,000 new employment opportunities.
AWS expands its operations to Mississippi
Roger Wehner, Director of Economic Development at AWS, stated, “Since 2011, AWS has invested over $108 billion in infrastructure across the United States to support digital transformation across various industries. We are excited to expand our operations to Mississippi through this $10 billion investment plan, leveraging the thriving tech industry in the state to create new high-paying job opportunities and boost the state’s annual GDP. We look forward to providing new workforce development opportunities and education programs to support the next generation of talent in the Magnolia State.”
The company consistently invests in communities where Amazon and AWS operate, supporting local employment, fostering economic growth, providing skills training and education, and creating opportunities for local businesses and suppliers.
Amazon’s commitments to the Mississippi community
As part of the announcement, Amazon made the following commitments to the Mississippi community:
- Supporting STEAM awareness and learning opportunities in K-12 school systems, including industry-designed curriculum experiences like “We Build it Better” for middle and high school students to engage in a STEAM environment with industry-grade tools.
- Introducing “We Will Build it Better,” a career awareness program for elementary classrooms, designed to expose students to a STEAM environment with a range of industry-grade hand tools and technologies.
- Supporting community colleges, technical schools, universities, and workforce development organisations in designing, developing, and implementing training programs and job-based learning opportunities to prepare job seekers for high-demand careers in the growing field of data centre construction and operations, including initiatives such as fibre optic fusion workshops and educational seminars on infrastructure.
- Providing training and support for fibre optic technicians and data centre operations programs at community colleges and universities, including faculty training by industry experts, donation of facilities and equipment for hands-on learning, and aligning curriculum content with industry standards and best practices.
- Offering free, on-demand cloud computing course support for educational institutions and independent learners, addressing specific skills and roles needed in cloud support, software development, data integration, and other critical cloud computing skills. This commitment builds upon AWS’s promise to provide free cloud skills training to 29 million people globally.
Recently, Amazon expanded its renewable energy footprint in Mississippi with the state’s first utility-scale wind farm located in Tunica County. Since 2010, Amazon has invested $2.3 billion in Mississippi, including infrastructure and employee compensation, contributing $2 billion to the state’s GDP. Mississippi is home to over 1,000 independent sellers, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, selling products on Amazon’s platform.
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