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By Courtney Warren
Canton is once again making a mark in Mississippi history, as Mississippi lawmakers recently finalized a $10 billion planned investment by Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company that will bring new jobs and economic development opportunities to the state. AWS is investing $10 billion to establish multiple data center complexes in two Madison County industrial parks. One of the two complexes is planned to be built at the 927-acre Madison County Mega Site adjacent to the Nissan property in Canton.
This investment by AWS is the single largest capital investment in Mississippi history and is four times the size of the previous largest economic development project.
“This project will be transformational, not only for Canton and Madison County, but for the entire state,” said Clay Mansell, a Canton native who serves as State Representative for District 56.
“All of us -- our citizens, organizations, schools and agencies that call Canton home -- must work to ensure Canton citizens are trained and equipped to qualify for the jobs in this new industry.”
“I am thrilled to have AWS in one of the counties that I represent,” Mansell continued. “I am looking forward to working with them.”
The operation will start in 2025 with 268 employees, including 112 direct employees. By 2034, Amazon will reach 1,000 employees, of which 371 will be direct employees of the company earning $70,000 salaries, with 629 contract employees earning 125-percent of the average state salary or greater, for an average wage of $66,000.
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,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “This record-shattering $10 billion private sector investment will not only create one thousand 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. 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.”
According to Reeves and others, the revenue from this agreement is expected to have a significant impact on both Madison County and Canton public schools.
Bill Cork, director of the Mississippi Development Authority, said there is a $2 million line item with the Institutions of Higher Learning to create positions that will engage with the community and help motivate individuals to pursue careers in the associated industry.
Cork said training will focus on STEM education curriculum, certification programs and internationally renowned programs within the company’s own operations. The process will consist of building the team and working with communities and the company to embed curriculum within in K-12 schools, community colleges and universities.
Reeves said the Amazon data centers should be up and running by 2027, with some construction already beginning.
Over the next three years, Reeves has said the company could require between 6,000 and 7,000 construction workers in order to complete the facilities at the two sites. Reeves indicated that number could end up being closer to 15,000.
FUNDING DETAILS
The Senate approved House Bill 1, which created a fund in the state treasury into which $4 million, appropriated by passage of House Bill 2, was made available to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA).
The $44 million will cover:
- $32 million in training grants provided for the benefit of the company, which includes:
- $16 million for customizable training, recruitment, relocation, and other qualifying expenses with a 50-50 match from the company,
- $10 million for Institutions for Higher Learning training for engineers, Artificial Intelligence, data science and industrial technology, with a minimum of $3 million to be spent with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, minority serving institutions or predominantly black institutions,
- $4 million to develop and implement a K-12 pipeline program to foster future talent, and
- $2 million to the Institutions of Higher Learning, Community Colleges, for workforce training and certification programs at mutually agreed places by the company and Accelerate Mississippi.
- $6 million for government expediting support, such as MDA, Department of Environmental Quality, Public Service Commission, Public Utilities Staff, State Auditor, and Accelerate MS.
- $6 million to Madison County to begin the project’s design and construction immediately.
Senate Bill 2001 approved incentives and a $260 million bond, of which $217 will be repaid by Madison County. Highlights of the $260 million include:
- $15.79 million for roads
- $14.75 million for water system
- $171.5 million for sewer system
- $13 million for new fire station
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