The Montgomery County project will create over 400 full-time jobs and generate hundreds of millions in new tax revenue
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Amazon $AMZN announced plans to invest $10 billion in Missouri to build a data center campus in Montgomery County, the company said Monday, a project expected to create more than 400 full-time jobs, thousands of construction positions, and hundreds of millions of dollars in new property tax revenue over the next 25 years.
Cloud technologies that power everything from remote work and video streaming to hospital records and financial transactions will run on the expanded AWS infrastructure the campus is designed to support, the company said. Amazon did not specify a timeline for construction or when the facility would become operational.
As part of the project, Amazon committed more than $7 million in community contributions to Montgomery County. Those include $3 million toward local emergency dispatch services, more than $1 million to build a gathering space at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and an additional $3 million for programs covering STEM education, skills development, and support for local nonprofits. Amazon is also launching a $150,000 community fund, managed by nonprofit ChangeX, to provide grants up to $10,000 for local projects.
Under a deal struck with Ameren $AEE Missouri, the full cost of connecting to and drawing power from the grid will fall entirely on Amazon, with the rate structure designed to keep existing customers' bills unaffected by the new facility's energy demands. Water supply lines serving the campus will be built by Amazon and, once finished, transferred to Montgomery County Public Water Supply District No. 1 free of charge.
"Today's announcement reflects what we've learned over those years: that when you show up as a real partner, listen to the community, and invest for the long term, everyone benefits," Amazon Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer David Zapolsky said in a statement.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe praised the investment, saying in a statement that the project "creates lasting benefits for local communities by supporting critical infrastructure improvements, generating new tax revenue for schools and public services, and strengthening the foundation for future economic growth."
The land where the data centers will be built previously generated less than $9,000 a year in property taxes, the company said.
Missouri has been home to Amazon operations since 2017. Today the company's presence there spans fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and Whole Foods Market locations, with a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees; Amazon puts its total contribution to the state's gross domestic product at more than $9 billion since 2010.
The announcement builds on a broader expansion of Amazon's data center footprint. Last year, Amazon announced a separate $10 billion investment in North Carolina to expand AWS infrastructure, a project that included 500 new jobs and STEM education grants.
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