Amazon's $10 Billion Investment in North Carolina: A Boost for AI and Cloud Computing Infrastructure

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

HAMLET, N.C. (AP) -- Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county -- all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an investment in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs.

Amazon to invest $10B in North Carolina to fuel AI and cloud data center infrastructure

Amazon announced plans Wednesday to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its data center infrastructure to support AI and cloud computing technologies. The company said the investment will help create 500 new high-skilled jobs and support thousands more in its Amazon Web Services data center supply chain. The jobs will range from data center engineers and network specialists, to engineering operations managers, security specialists, and more technical roles as generative AI fuels demand for advanced cloud infrastructure and compute power. Seattle-based Amazon has invested heavily in North Carolina, with more than $12 billion poured into the state since 2010. The tech giant said it has helped support 24,000 full- and part-time jobs, as well as more than 26,000 indirect jobs. "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, Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer, said in a statement. As part of Wednesday's announcement, Amazon is also adding its support to North Carolina community colleges, technical schools, universities, and workforce development organizations to design, develop, and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities to prepare job seekers for careers in data center construction and operations. The company is launching the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund with a $150,000 commitment for grants up to $10,000 supporting STEM education, sustainability, economic development, workforce development, and community well-being.

Amazon to build AI data centers in North Carolina

Why it matters: Amazon's data centers, which will be used to power the company's artificial intelligence and cloud computing work, are one of the largest financial investments in the state's history and could also create 500 new jobs once they open. Driving the news: Amazon announced the deal on Wednesday, saying it will open multiple data centers in the state. Zoom in: A release from Gov. Josh Stein's office said the data centers would be built at the Energy Way Industrial Park, which has energy connections to both Duke Energy and Pee Dee Electric as well as a Duke Energy-owned natural gas plant. Richmond County approved incentives for the project -- cash grants up to 50% of annual property taxes and 65% of personal property taxes for 20 years -- on Tuesday night, according to the Richmond Observer. The big picture: Investment in data centers has exploded in recent years, due to the energy needs of AI computing. The other side: Despite the job-creation promises of data centers, there's rising bipartisan opposition to their construction nationwide stemming from aesthetics and noise to housing costs and national security, Axios' Asher Price and Mimi Montgomery reported last year. Between the lines: Microsoft has also bought a large amount of land in Person County for what is presumed to be a data center project. The company has yet to announce its plans for the land.

Amazon isn't slowing down on AI with a $10 billion data center in North Carolina

Amazon (AMZN) is almost doubling its investment in North Carolina, announcing $10 billion worth of AI infrastructure for Amazon Web Services' supply chain of data centers. It cited increased demand for compute power due to generative AI. In the past 15 years, the retail behemoth has injected $12 billion into the state, where it has 13 fulfillment centers, as well as wind and solar farms. The company says this expansion will create 500 new high-skilled jobs. Governor Josh Stein voiced his enthusiasm in a press release, noting that "Amazon's investment is among the largest in state history." The company is also creating training programs for data center technicians and $150,000 in grants for STEM education. The data centers will be located in Richmond Country, which includes the city of Rockingham, which is 70 miles southeast of Charlotte, along the border with South Carolina. It's 100 miles south of Raleigh, a major tech hub in the region. In March, Amazon broke ground on a robotics fulfillment center in Wilmington, North Carolina, a four-and-a-half-story building with more than 3 million square feet of floor space. Although it will be focused on automation, the company promised it would create more than 1,000 full- and part-time jobs. It's expected to open in 2026. In February, 75% of workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in Garner, a suburb of Raleigh, rejected a proposal to unionize by a group called CAUSE: Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment. The group's spokesperson, Rev. Ryan Brown, told CBS News (PARA): "We knew that historically the tide was against us to have a win for several reasons. One, we're in the South. Two, the average worker that's in North Carolina knows nothing about a union and the benefits of a union and what a union could do for them."

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county -- all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an event in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Amazon to Spend $10 Billion on North Carolina Data Centers for AI Expansion - Decrypt

An expert told Decrypt the scale of Amazon's investment highlights how rising infrastructure costs risk putting AI innovation solely in the hands of Big Tech. Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is committing $10 billion to build new data centers in North Carolina as part of its effort to expand artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. The investment is expected to anchor new compute-intensive workloads and help scale Amazon's capacity to support businesses building with AI, the company said in a statement. "Amazon's investment is among the largest in state history and will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs and an economic boost to Richmond County," North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said. The $10 billion investment is part of Amazon's push to compete with other tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta in building the infrastructure needed to support large-scale AI models. The company said the funds "will support the future of AI from AWS data centers in the Tar Heel State," creating at least 500 high-skilled jobs in the process. As part of the new buildout, Amazon will fund technician training programs at community colleges, STEM education in K-12 schools, and career pathways in fiber broadband infrastructure. It also launched a $150,000 Richmond County Community Fund to support local projects in workforce development, sustainability, and public health. "The expansion of AI infrastructure is positive news for the industry, but it highlights a key problem of this industry: cost," Leo Fan, co-founder of blockchain-based AI infrastructure firm Cysic, told Decrypt. "An investment of $10 billion demonstrates the high cost of building, expanding, and maintaining AI infrastructure," Fan said. "This prices out smaller-scale developers or companies that may not have the funds to access the infrastructure and hardware needed to provide the necessary computing power, disincentivising innovation." Fan said the investment brings economic benefits but warned it could lead to "the stronger concentration of all innovative AI work in the hands of Big Tech," which he believes could stall broader innovation. The company is developing AI software for humanoid robots that could eventually handle delivery tasks, according to a report by The Information, citing an unnamed source. Amazon has reportedly built a "humanoid park," an indoor obstacle course inside one of its San Francisco offices, where the robots will be tested. While the company hasn't commented publicly, Amazon allegedly plans to use third-party hardware during early trials. "Amazon's move validates what the crypto-AI space has been building towards: permissionless intelligence backed by powerful infrastructure," Abhay, founder and CEO of DappLooker AI told Decrypt.

Amazon expands AI footprint with $10 billion data center investment in North Carolina

Massive AI investment could reshape North Carolina's tech landscape. Amazon announced Wednesday a massive $10 billion investment plan to expand its data center operations in North Carolina, aiming to boost its artificial intelligence and cloud computing capabilities. The investment comes as tech companies race to build infrastructure for the growing demands of AI technology. The project will create at least 500 high-skilled jobs, including data center engineers, network specialists, and security experts, the company said. According to Dr. Tevfik Kosar, director of the Data Intensive Distributed Computing Laboratory at the University at Buffalo, this investment is crucial for Amazon's competitive edge in AI computing. "It's a very competitive race since the computational costs of state-of-the-art AI models increase at a rate of 1,000 times every three years," Dr. Kosar told ABC News. "This new deal is very important for Amazon to increase their crucial AI compute resources." North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein welcomed the announcement. "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," he said. The investment ranks among the largest in state history and is expected to bring an economic boost to Richmond County. However, experts have warned of significant environmental challenges presented by AI data centers. Kosar pointed out that data centers of this scale typically require hundreds of megawatts of power -- enough to supply a mid-sized town -- and millions of gallons of water daily for cooling systems. "These power and water demands can bring a significant load to North Carolina's natural resources," Kosar cautioned. "Any new investments in data centers should follow state-of-the-art sustainability practices and address the concerns of local communities." David Zapolsky, Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer, emphasized the company's commitment to the region. "Amazon's $10 billion investment in North Carolina underscores our commitment to driving innovation and advancing the future of cloud computing and AI technologies," he said. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth." Amazon says it has maintained a strong presence in North Carolina for over a decade, investing $12 billion since 2010 and contributing $13.1 billion to the state's GDP. The company currently supports 24,000 full-time and part-time jobs, along with more than 26,000 indirect jobs in the state. As part of the investment, Amazon announced several community initiatives, including support for local education through data center operations training programs and STEM education for K-12 students. The company is also launching the Richmond County Community Fund, committing $150,000 for local community projects focusing on education, sustainability, and economic development. Fengqi You, an energy engineering professor at Cornell University, sees the investment as potentially transformative for both the state and the company. "This will bring thousands of high-quality jobs during both the construction and operational phases, spur local business growth, and attract further investments in technology and energy infrastructure," You said. "The scale of this project puts North Carolina on the map as a central hub for AI innovation in the U.S." You also emphasized that the project could set new environmental standards. "If Amazon prioritizes renewable energy and energy-efficient designs, it can set a new standard for sustainable data center development -- helping both the company and the region progress toward their climate and sustainability commitments," You said.

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center, AI campus

HAMLET, N.C. -- Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county -- all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an investment in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs.

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

HAMLET, N.C. (AP) -- Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county -- all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an investment in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs.

Amazon Planning $10B Investment in North Carolina for Data Center and AI Campus

HAMLET, N.C. (AP) -- Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county -- all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an investment in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Amazon planning $10 billion investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

Amazon plans to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, bringing a massive shot in the arm to a region where many textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said Wednesday that its investment in rural Richmond County should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers, according to statements from the company and Gov. Josh Stein's office. Stein called the investment one of the largest in state history. Data centers are already familiar to North Carolina's landscape, including those operated by Apple. This project could transform Richmond County, which is on the South Carolina border and has a population of about 42,000. The Richmond County site is expected to employ engineers, network and security specialists and other technical roles, the company said. Amazon said it would provide support for universities, community colleges and other workforce training programs to help people enter data center and broadband expansion fields. "This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth," Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said. "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent." Richmond County commissioners approved an incentives package for Amazon on Tuesday. The company could receive annual cash grants for 20 years equal to portions of the real estate property tax and the property tax for vehicles and equipment at each data center contingent on job creation and monetary investment thresholds, The Richmond Observer reported. "This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine," Richmond County Manager Bryan Land said at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. "With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham's wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county - all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero." Stein's office, which called the project an "innovation campus," said the data centers will contain servers, storage drives, networking equipment and other technology. "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," Stein said. The governor attended a public announcement about the investment on Wednesday at an investment in Hamlet. The company said it has invested $12 billon in North Carolina since 2010 and supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs.

Amazon Expands Cloud, AI Footprint With $10 Billion Data Center Investment In North Carolina - Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon.com Inc. AMZN announced plans on Wednesday to invest $10 billion in North Carolina data center infrastructure to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies, marking one of the largest investments in state history. What Happened: The Richmond County deployment will create at least 500 high-skilled positions, including data center engineers, network specialists, and security experts. The investment supports thousands of additional jobs in the Amazon Web Services supply chain as generative AI drives increased demand for advanced cloud infrastructure. "Amazon's investment is among the largest in state history and will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs and an economic boost to Richmond County," said North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. Since 2010, Amazon has invested $12 billion in North Carolina, contributing $13.1 billion to the state's GDP while supporting 24,000 full and part-time jobs plus 26,000 indirect positions across various facilities. See Also: Jim Cramer Says The Chinese 'Could Really Hurt Us' As Beijing Tightens Grip On Rare Earth Magnets: Warns Of Threat To 'Everything' From Autos To Data Centers Why It Matters: The expansion strengthens Amazon's AI capabilities as the company launches a new agentic AI group within its Lab126 division. BofA Securities analysts recently raised Amazon's price target from $230 to $248, citing strengthened competitive positioning through AI and robotics investments. Amazon operates over 750,000 robots assisting in 75% of customer orders. BofA estimates advanced robotics and AI could drive $16 billion in annual savings by 2032, adding 1.6 percentage points to Amazon's long-term retail margin. The company established the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund with $150,000 for grants up to $10,000 supporting STEM education, workforce development, and economic initiatives. Price Action: Amazon.com Inc.'s stock closed at $207.23 on Wednesday, up 0.74% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped slightly to $207.10, down 0.063%. Year to date, Amazon shares have declined by 5.90%. According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, AMZN demonstrates positive momentum and strong growth, with a modest valuation. The stock maintains a favorable price trend across short to long-term periods. Click here to view the full stock breakdown. Read Next: Ross Gerber Mocks Elon Musk's Attack On Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill:' 'This Should Work Out Well For Tesla' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com AMZNAmazon.com Inc $207.100.68% Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full Score Edge Rankings Momentum 70.38 Growth 97.10 Quality 69.09 Value 49.70 Price Trend Short Medium Long Overview Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Amazon to invest $10B in North Carolina toward AI data centers

Amazon will invest approximately $10 billion toward new artificial intelligence data center infrastructure in North Carolina, company and state officials announced Wednesday. The expanded AI data centers will be located in Richmond County and support Amazon Web Services, the company's cloud-computing unit. The project is expected to create "at least 500 new high-skilled jobs," including data center engineers and network specialists, the company said. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, touted Amazon's commitment as "among the largest in state history" and said it would provide "an economic boost to Richmond County." The rural county is located about 70 miles east of Charlotte. "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," Stein said in a statement. Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky said the "investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth." "We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent," Zapolsky added. As part of the investment, Amazon will also roll out new training programs focused on areas such as data center operations and fiber optics. The company has a growing footprint in North Carolina and has invested $12 billion in the state since 2010. Amazon shares were flat in Wednesday trading. Amazon and other Big Tech firms are pouring billions into AI infrastructure as they race to develop the advanced technology. Led by CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon has signaled it will spend $100 million in capital expenditures this year. President Trump is also backing the nationwide effort and has pushed companies to boost their commitments within the US. In January, Trump announced the $500 billion "Project Stargate" - a collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle to build out AI data centers.

Amazon to invest $10 billion in North Carolina for AI infrastructure expansion By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has announced plans to invest an estimated $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its data center infrastructure, supporting AI and cloud computing technologies. This significant investment is expected to generate at least 500 new high-skilled jobs, ranging from data center engineers to network specialists, and will also support thousands of other positions within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center supply chain. The new jobs will not only include direct positions at Amazon but also local construction jobs, positions in the data center supply chain, and others in the local community. This new investment is a continuation of Amazon's commitment to North Carolina, where, since 2010, the company has invested $12 billion, contributing $13.1 billion to the state's GDP and supporting 24,000 full and part-time jobs, plus 26,000 indirect jobs across various facilities. In addition to job creation, Amazon is also launching the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund with a $150,000 commitment. Grants up to $10,000 will be provided to support STEM education, sustainability, economic development, workforce development, and community well-being. David Zapolsky, Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer, emphasized Amazon's commitment to driving innovation, stating that the investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth. Amazon also plans to bring training and education programs to local communities, including data center technician programs, fiber optic fusion splicing workshops, and STEM awareness and learning opportunities for K-12 schools. These initiatives aim to 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. As part of Amazon's commitment to supporting local communities, the company will also launch the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund. This fund, managed and administered by the nonprofit ChangeX, is open to individuals, local community groups, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations across Richmond County and surrounding communities. Applications for grants up to $10,000 are now open and will close on July 23, 2025. Amazon's expansion in North Carolina will not only bolster the state's economy but also contribute to its position as an innovation hub, particularly in the field of AI and cloud computing. This investment builds on Amazon's track record of investing in infrastructure across North Carolina, including the recent opening of a Same-Day Delivery facility in Kannapolis and plans for four new last-mile facilities in Jacksonville, Mount Airy, Southern Pines, and Tarboro.

Amazon to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand cloud, AI infrastructure

(Reuters) -Amazon.com said on Wednesday it would invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure, deepening its presence in the state as it moves to cement its position in the fast-growing technology. The planned investment in Richmond County would create at least 500 high-skilled jobs, including data-center engineers and network specialists, Amazon said. The tech giant already employs about 24,000 full- and part-time staff in the state. The move is the latest in a series of outlays Amazon has pledged in the past few years, as Big Tech companies race to build data centers needed to power AI applications. Amazon said it has invested $12 billion in North Carolina since 2010. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)

Amazon Plans to Invest $10 Billion in North Carolina to Expand Cloud Computing Infrastructure and Advance AI Innovation

Amazon on June 4, 2025 announced plans to invest an estimated $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its data center infrastructure to support AI and cloud computing technologies. This landmark investment is expected to create at least 500 new high-skilled jobs while supporting thousands of other jobs in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center supply chain. Generative AI is driving increased demand for advanced cloud infrastructure and compute power, and the company?s investment will support the future of AI from AWS data centers in the Tar Heel State. This deployment of cutting-edge cloud computing infrastructure will strengthen North Carolina?s position as an innovation hub. The new high-skilled jobs will range from data center engineers and network specialists, to engineering operations managers, security specialists, and many more technical roles. In addition to these direct positions, this planned investment is expected to support thousands of local construction jobs and positions in the data center supply chain, as well as other jobs in the local community. This expansion is a testament to the state's thriving business ecosystem and talented workforce, which have enabled the company to support 24,000 full- and part-time jobs, as well as more than 26,000 indirect jobs. This planned investment builds on the company?s track record of investing in infrastructure across North Carolina. The company recently announced the opening of a Same-Day Delivery facility in Kannapolis, along with plans for four new last-mile facilities in Jacksonville, Mount Airy, Southern Pines, and Tarboro. These new sites will improve delivery speeds for customers, while creating more than 100 full-time jobs at the Kannapolis facility alone. The company has also made significant investments in renewable energy, including two solar and wind farms. Once fully operational, these projects will generate enough carbon-free energy to power an estimated 76,316 U.S. homes each year. Additionally, we filmed Amazon Original movies and series in North Carolina, including The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Peripheral, and Merv.