Amazon investing $10 billion in Mississippi data centers
The Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing division of Amazon is making an historic investment in Mississippi.
AWS plans to invest $10 billion to build two data center complexes in Madison County, Miss., marking the single largest capital investment in the state’s history.
In coordination with the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA), AWS will establish multiple data center complexes in two Madison County industrial parks, which are projected to create at least 1,000 new jobs.
In addition to the investment, Amazon will also offer support for STEAM awareness and learning opportunities for K-12 school systems in Mississippi; and develop and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities in the field of data center construction and operations, as well as the broadband expansion industry.
Amazon will also offer support for educational institutions and independent learners with free, ready-to-learn cloud computing curriculum for specific skills and roles cloud computing skills including cloud support, software development, and data integration. This builds on an existing AWS commitment to provide free cloud computing skills training to 29 million people around the world by 2025.
This is Amazon’s fourth big investment in its cloud-computing business in the past 12 months. In July, the company said it will invest $7.8 billion by 2030 to expand its data center operations in Ohio.
In addition, in May Amazon said it would commit $12.7 billion to expand its cloud infrastructure in India by 2030, and in January said it will invest $35 billion by 2040 to expand data centers in Virginia.
“Since 2011, AWS has invested more than $108 billion in its infrastructure across the U.S. to support customers of all kinds, and across all industries, in their digital transformation,” said Roger Wehner, AWS director of economic development, in a corporate blog post. “Building on this, we are excited to expand our operations into Mississippi through this planned $10 billion investment, which will tap into the burgeoning tech sector across the state to create new, well-paying jobs and boost the state’s Gross Domestic Product each year. We look forward to delivering new workforce development opportunities and educational programs that support the next generation of talent across the Magnolia State.”
Since 2010, Amazon says it has invested $2.3 billion in the state of Mississippi, including five fulfillment and sortation centers, four delivery stations, five solar farms, a wind farm, and a Whole Foods Market location.