Amazon is proud of its partnership with customers, communities, and government leaders in a Harlem-like community in Mississippi.
First, let us say that Amazon, puts its money where its mouth is, they have an Amazon Hub on 125th Street, an Amazon Locker at Blank Fitness on 116th Street, an Amazon Locker at the Blank Fitness venue on 125th Street, and several other Amazon Lockers throughout Harlem.
Since 2010, with a population of 67.76% Americans of African descent have invested $2.3 billion in the state, including five fulfillment and sortation centers, four delivery stations, five solar farms, a wind farm, and a Whole Foods Market location.
Additionally, 74 Mississippi schools receive STEM education and career exploration courses through Amazon Future Engineer, our global philanthropic education initiative.
Study shows the positive impact of AWS investment in data centers on jobs, education, local businesses, the environment and more.
Today, they are excited to expand this commitment. Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest $10 billion to build two data center complexes, marking the single largest capital investment in Mississippi’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 is projected to create at least 1,000 new jobs at Magnolia State.
“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. “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.”
We continuously invest in communities where Amazon and AWS operate by supporting local jobs, generating economic growth, providing skills training and education, and unlocking opportunities for local businesses and suppliers.
As part of today’s announcement, we are also making the following commitments to Mississippi communities:
Support for STEAM awareness and learning opportunities for K-12 school systems, including:
- We Build it Better, a set of industry-designed curricular experiences and resources that engage middle school and older students in a work-like STEAM environment stocked with industry-grade tools
- We Will Build it Better, a career awareness program for elementary classrooms to engage students in a work-like STEAM environment, complete with an array of industry-grade hand tools and technology
Support for Mississippi community colleges, technical schools, universities, and workforce development organizations to design, develop, and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities that prepare job seekers for high-demand career pathways in the growing field of data center construction and operations, as well as the broadband expansion industry.
This includes awareness programs such as:
- Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Workshops, two-day certificate courses implemented at local community colleges, technical schools, and universities that train individuals in new fusion splicing (the welding together of fiber optical cables) techniques and equipment, then connect these learners to fiber-broadband employers
- Information Infrastructure Workshops for Educators, a one-day workshop to help education and workforce leaders better understand the physical layer of cloud computing and our information economy, and the many different available careers
- Training and support for community colleges and universities to implement Fiber Optic Technician and Data Center Operations Programs, including faculty training from industry subject matter experts; facilities and equipment donations to empower hands-on learning; and curricular content to link programs of study to industry standards and best practices
Support for education institutions and independent learners with free, ready-to-learn cloud computing curriculum that works backwards from employer demand for specific skills and roles in cloud support, software development, and data integration, among other in-demand cloud computing skills. This builds on the AWS commitment to provide free cloud skills training to 29 million people globally.
Today’s announcement expands on Amazon’s existing footprint in the state. For example, Amazon is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Mississippi. We recently expanded our renewable energy footprint in Mississippi with the state’s first utility-scale wind farm, located in Tunica County.
The Delta wind project will include 41 wind turbines powered by winds from the Mississippi Delta, and will be a dual-use operation, where the agricultural land will continue to be used for farming rice, soybeans, corn, and wheat under and around the turbines. According to developer and owner-operator AES, the project is expected to bring tens of millions of dollars in consistent tax revenue to the county and school district and is expected to create nearly 300 jobs during peak construction. Other investments in the area include:
- $2.3 billion invested in Mississippi since 2010, including infrastructure and compensation to our employees
- $2 billion added into state GDP based on Amazon investments
- 7,500 full- and part-time jobs created in Mississippi (as of January 2023)
- 9,000 indirect jobs supported on top of our direct hires in Mississippi (based on Input-Output methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
- 1,000+ independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses—in Mississippi, selling in Amazon’s store
Amazin stated that the appreciate Governor Tate Reeves’s leadership, as well as the support of state and local leaders, to make this commitment possible. They look forward to serving our customers and communities in Mississippi through this expanded investment writes Amazon News.
Editor’s note: As we review Harlem Malcolm X’s speech in 1963, he stated, “…what happens in Mississippi and the South has a direct bearing on what happens to you and me here in Harlem.” In this case, we hope this statement remains true.
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