1720Views
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is investing $10 billion to establish multiple data center complexes in two Madison County industrial parks. The project is a planned $10 billion corporate investment and will create at least 1,000 high-paying, high-tech jobs.
This investment by AWS is the single largest capital investment in Mississippi history and four times the size of the previous largest economic development project.
AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. These data centers will enable customers of all sizes and across all industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, financial services, public sector, telecom, and more, to transform their businesses. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile and innovate faster. The new data centers will contain computer servers, data storage drives, networking equipment, and other forms of technology infrastructure used to power cloud computing.
Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority funds will be used to assist with infrastructure needs, workforce training and site development.
“Mississippi has done it again,” Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said. “This record-shattering $10 billion private sector investment will not only create 1,000 high-tech, high-paying jobs for Mississippians, but it will result in our state remaining at the forefront of innovation.
“Mississippi is building a business climate that is ripe for further growth, especially in the technology sector,” he said. “On top of that, we’re doing what it takes to prepare our workforce to take on these high-paying jobs of the future. There really is something special happening here in Mississippi, and the world is noticing.”
“MDA is proud to have been instrumental in the successful culmination of this transformative $10 billion project,” MDA Executive Director Bill Cork said. “This monumental win underscores Mississippi’s attractiveness for major investments and signifies a boost to our economic landscape.
“The high-quality, good-paying employment opportunities AWS is bringing to Madison County exemplifies our commitment to creating a stronger Mississippi and advancing the overall well-being of our communities,” he said. “MDA is excited about the numerous positive impacts AWS will have on the state’s growth and prosperity, and we thank the AWS team for its well-placed confidence in our business climate and workforce.”
“Since 2011, AWS has invested more than $108 billion in its infrastructure across the United States to support customers of all kinds, and across all industries, in their digital transformation,” AWS Director of Economic Development Roger Wehner said. “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.”
With the construction scheduled for the Holmes Community College district, the College stands ready to assist wherever necessary to see the project come to fruition.
“Last week, after a special session of the legislature, we celebrated the coming of the largest economic development project in the history of Mississippi,” Holmes Community College President Dr. Jim Haffey said. “The Amazon data centers spread out over 1700 acres on two sites in Madison County will have a capital investment of $10 billion. (That is the equivalent of 100 businesses each building a $100 million company in one county).”
“The electricity required for this one project is the equivalent of powering 700,000 homes per year,” he added. “This will give our district a distinct advantage in a reliable power grid for future generations, and ability to add other projects to it.
“I have no doubt that a major reason this location was chosen was our reputation to deliver high quality workforce training, career and technical programs, adult basic education, and academic classes that lead to STEM degrees,” Dr. Haffey said. “We will play a major role in helping the project succeed. The first focus will be to help train the hundreds of construction workers that will have to build highly sophisticated electrical systems. In tandem with that, we will anticipate a major role in training the over 1000 workers that will be needed at just the locations themselves.”
Haffey said the Madison County area has a lot of momentum, and the College is a big part of that. He said due to the facility coming to Madison County, it should have a very positive impact on our Madison county funding for future generations.
“Holmes Community College is very excited about the recent announcement that two hyperscale data centers will be located in Madison County,” Holmes Community College Workforce Development Vice President Dr. Mike Blankenship said. “Holmes Community College Workforce Development will stand ready to assist in any training that the company may require.
“Holmes Community College currently provides Electrical Lineman training which will provide a resource for the required electrical utility infrastructure improvements required for the grid expansions required for this project,” he said. “We are proud that Amazon has chosen to locate in Madison County, and Workforce Development will do everything we can to help ensure their success.”
