HAMSLET, N.C. (AP) — Amazon has announced plans to invest $10 billion in developing its North Carolina campus to enhance its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, providing a significant boost to areas historically impacted by the decline of textile and apparel jobs.
Amazon stated that, according to a release from the company and Gov. Josh Stein’s office, the investments in rural Richmond County are expected to generate at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and the supply chain for data centers. Stein described this investment as one of the largest in the state’s history.
The data center will join the ranks of similar operations across North Carolina, including those managed by Apple. This initiative has the potential to transform Richmond County, which is situated on the border with South Carolina and has a population of approximately 42,000.
According to the company, the Richmond County site will create positions for engineers, networking specialists, security experts, and other technical roles. Amazon has committed to supporting universities, community colleges, and other workforce training programs that will enable individuals to enter the fields of data centers and broadband expansion.
“This investment positions North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, creating hundreds of advanced occupations and driving significant economic growth,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon’s Chief Global Affairs and Justice Secretary. “We are eager to collaborate with state and local leaders, suppliers, and educational institutions to cultivate the next generation of talent.”
The Richmond County Commissioners approved the incentive package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company may be eligible for annual cash subsidies over the next 20 years, equivalent to the real estate property tax and property tax for each data center vehicle and equipment, based on the Richmond Observer, job creation, and monetary investment criteria. This has been reported.
“This project will transform our community in ways we can’t yet imagine,” Richmond County Manager Brian Rand remarked at the Commissioners meeting Tuesday. “In addition to this announcement, there will be substantial upgrades to water systems, Rockingham wastewater systems, and county-wide optical infrastructure, all of which will incur costs for Richmond County taxpayers.”
Stein’s Office, referring to the project as an “innovation campus,” stated that the data center will encompass servers, storage drives, networking equipment, and other technologies.
“Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way we work and innovate. North Carolina continues to attract top technology firms like Amazon, and we are proud to be at the forefront of progress,” Stein remarked during a public announcement about his investment in Hamlet.
The company noted that it has invested $12 billion in North Carolina since 2010, supporting 24,000 full-time and part-time jobs.
Source: apnews.com