Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on Thursday its plans to invest an estimated $11 billion in Indiana, creating at least 1,000 new jobs and marking the largest capital investment in the state’s history.
With the support of Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), AWS will build new data centers in St. Joseph County. AWS will also contribute up to $7 million to support road infrastructure improvements being built by the state and local community surrounding the company’s planned development.
This planned investment is part of Amazon’s long-term commitment to Indiana.
“Since 2010, we’ve invested $21.5 billion in the Hoosier State and have added $19.8 billion to Indiana’s gross domestic product, helping support customers, employees and communities,” the company said in a release.
Amazon’s investments have created 26,000 full- and part-time jobs in the state. Amazon’s commitment to Indiana also includes enabling four solar farms and a wind farm, with a combined capacity of more than 600 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 146,000 homes.
“AWS’s unwavering commitment to supporting our customers and helping drive digital transformation has been evident through our infrastructure investments across the United States,” said Roger Wehner, AWS director of economic development. “Building upon this, we are thrilled to be expanding our operations in Indiana through this planned $11 billion investment, which will create numerous well-paying job opportunities and tap into the state’s burgeoning tech sector, while contributing significantly to the state’s growing economy. This investment will include our continuing commitment to fostering workforce development and educational initiatives in areas where we operate, and we look forward to helping nurture the next generation of talent in the Hoosier State. We are excited to partner with Governor Holcomb, IEDC, and other state and local leaders to forge a path toward a brighter future for Indiana’s tech landscape.”
Empowering local communities
Building upon its commitment to St. Joseph County and the surrounding area, AWS said it is launching the AWS InCommunities St. Joseph County Community Fund, a grant program aimed at supporting initiatives focused on six key themes: science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education; sustainability and environment; economic development; future workforce development; inclusion, diversity, and equity; and homelessness, hunger, health, and well-being.
AWS is committing $100,000 to this fund, which will be managed and administered by the nonprofit ChangeX. The program is open to individuals, local community groups, schools, nonprofits and other organizations across St. Joseph County and the wider South Bend region, the company said. Applicants can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for new or existing community projects that align with at least one of the six themes outlined by the fund.
“As part of our long-term community investment plan, the Community Fund marks the first steps through which we will collaborate with local partners to implement high-impact programs aimed at fostering the sustained growth and prosperity of the county,” AWS said.
Read the full release here.
