Amazon just raised the stakes with its own $10 billion bet on Richmond County, North Carolina. This investment reaffirms the company’s commitment to the entire region. The Responsible Investment acts as a cornerstone to our overall strategy. Since 2010, Amazon has already invested $12 billion in North Carolina. A public event on Wednesday was the formal backdrop for the announcement. North Carolina’s new Governor Josh Stein was on hand, and he noted the project’s transformative potential.
Their new “innovation campus” is expected to bring at least 500 direct jobs to Richmond County. In total, it will create thousands more from short- and long-term construction and supply chain jobs connected to the data center facilities themselves. The roles will include engineers, network and security specialists, and various other technical positions, reflecting Amazon’s focus on high-skilled employment.
Governor Stein applauded the massive investment, calling it one of the biggest in the state’s history. He made a point that emphasized why it was so critical for North Carolina to stay on the cutting edge of technology innovation.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work and innovate, and I am pleased that North Carolina will stay at the forefront of all that’s ahead as we continue to attract top technology companies like Amazon,” – Josh Stein
There’s no doubt that the project will strengthen federal and local infrastructure to a huge degree. Amazon’s investment will lead to major upgrades to Richmond County’s water system, improvements to Rockingham’s wastewater system, and enhancements to fiber optic infrastructure throughout the county. Even more impressively, these upgrades will have no financial impact on Richmond County taxpayers.
In addition to the job creation and infrastructure improvements, Amazon may receive annual cash grants for 20 years based on portions of the real estate property tax and property tax for vehicles and equipment related to each data center. These grants are dependent on Amazon hitting jobs created and cash invested milestones.
David Zapolsky, Amazon’s General Counsel, emphasized the forward-thinking strategy that drives this investment.
“This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth,” – David Zapolsky
On Tuesday, Richmond County commissioners unanimously approved an incentives package including property tax breaks for the logistics giant. This community decision opens the door for an extraordinary transformative project! Local leaders, including Byran Land shown off the above concept, were excited about what the investment could mean for the community.
“This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine,” – Bryan Land
