Amazon has announced plans to invest $10 billion in the US state of North Carolina to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, marking one of the largest corporate investments in the state’s history.
The investment will establish new data centres in Richmond County, a rural area in the American South with a population of approximately 42,000. The project is expected to create at least 500 high-skilled jobs, including positions for data centre engineers, network specialists, engineering operations managers and security specialists, whilst supporting thousands of additional construction and supply chain roles.
The announcement underscores the intense infrastructure race among hyperscale cloud providers to build the computing capacity required for generative AI workloads. Amazon has allocated up to $100 billion this year for capital expenditures, with the majority directed towards AI-related infrastructure projects.
“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,” said North Carolina governor Josh Stein.
Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer David Zapolsky 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. We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent.”
The Richmond County site represents a strategic choice for Amazon Web Services, offering robust utility infrastructure and proximity to existing fibre networks whilst providing economic revitalisation to a region that has seen manufacturing decline since the textile industry’s contraction.
Amazon already maintains significant operations across North Carolina, having invested $12 billion in the state since 2010. The company currently supports 24,000 full- and part-time jobs there, contributing $13.1 billion to the state’s gross domestic product through its fulfilment centres, renewable energy projects and content production facilities.
The investment follows Amazon’s $11 billion commitment to Georgia earlier this year and reflects broader industry trends as cloud providers expand their footprint to meet escalating demand for AI compute resources. Amazon’s capital expenditures totalled approximately $25 billion in the first quarter alone, with the company maintaining this investment level throughout 2024.
As part of the announcement, Amazon is establishing the Richmond County Community Fund with $150,000 to support local initiatives. The company will also collaborate with educational institutions to develop workforce training programmes, including data centre operations, fibre optic technician certification and pre-apprenticeship schemes connecting graduates to AWS contractors.
The move comes as concerns emerge about potential overcapacity in the data centre market, following reports of cancelled leases at Microsoft. However, Amazon and other major cloud providers have reaffirmed their commitment to extensive AI infrastructure investments, viewing them as essential for maintaining competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving market.
