Amazon is making a significant move to bolster its artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure with a massive \$10 billion investment in North Carolina. The project, centered around a new data center campus in Richmond County, is poised to create hundreds of jobs and solidify the state's position as a growing technology hub.

The planned campus, situated in Rockingham's Energy Way Industrial Park, will span nearly 800 acres and feature 20 buildings, each ranging from 200,000 to 225,000 square feet. This extensive facility will house the servers, storage drives, networking equipment, and other technology necessary to power Amazon's expanding cloud computing capabilities and generative AI technologies. The location is strategically located about 70 miles east of Charlotte and 100 miles west of Raleigh.

This investment is not just a win for Amazon, but also for North Carolina, particularly Richmond County. The region, which has seen a decline in textile and apparel jobs, is expected to receive a substantial economic boost. The project is anticipated to create at least 500 new high-skilled jobs, including data center engineers, network specialists, engineering operations managers and security specialists. Moreover, the construction phase and the ongoing operation of the data center are projected to support thousands of additional jobs in the supply chain and local community.

Beyond the direct job creation, Amazon is also committing to workforce development and community support initiatives. The company plans to collaborate with local colleges, universities, and technical schools to establish training and education programs. These programs will focus on preparing individuals for careers in data center operations and broadband expansion, ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers for the growing tech sector in the state. Amazon is also launching the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund with a \$150,000 commitment for grants to support STEM education, sustainability, economic development, workforce development, and community well-being.

The strategic location of the data center campus within the Energy Way Industrial Park offers several advantages. The park is adjacent to Duke Energy's Smith Energy Complex, a natural-gas-powered generation plant. This proximity ensures a robust and reliable power supply for the energy-intensive data center operations. Duke Energy representatives have stated that the existing infrastructure and capacity in Richmond County can readily accommodate large-use customers like AWS, reducing the need for costly new grid infrastructure.

This investment builds upon Amazon's existing presence in North Carolina. Since 2010, the company has invested \$12 billion in the state, primarily in fulfillment and distribution centers. These facilities support 24,000 full and part-time jobs and contribute billions to the state's GDP.

The move also underscores Amazon's commitment to leading the artificial intelligence revolution. With generative AI driving increased demand for advanced cloud infrastructure, this data center campus will play a vital role in supporting the future of AI from AWS data centers. Amazon's CEO, Andy Jassy, has emphasized the transformative potential of generative AI, stating that it will reinvent customer experiences and enable entirely new ones.

Overall, Amazon's \$10 billion investment in North Carolina represents a major step forward for the company, the state, and the advancement of AI and cloud computing technologies. The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and solidify North Carolina's position as a leading technology hub.