AWS plans USD $11 billion Indiana data centre hub, 1,000 jobs

AWS has announced plans to invest an estimated USD $11 billion in Indiana, representing the largest capital investment in the history of the state.

The investment will see AWS construct new data centres in St. Joseph County. The company's initiatives are expected to create at least 1,000 jobs across Indiana, with support coming from both Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). In addition to job creation, AWS will contribute up to USD $7 million for road infrastructure improvements in areas close to the planned developments.

According to AWS, this move is an extension of Amazon's ongoing involvement in Indiana. Since 2010, the company has invested USD $21.5 billion in the state and added USD $19.8 billion to Indiana's gross domestic product. This involvement has contributed to the creation of 26,000 full- and part-time jobs within the state. Moreover, Amazon has facilitated renewable energy projects, including four solar farms and a wind farm, which together have more than 600 megawatts of capacity-enough to power around 146,000 homes annually.

Roger Wehner, AWS Director of Economic Development, said,

"AWS's unwavering commitment to supporting our customers and helping drive digital transformation has been evident through our infrastructure investments across the United States. Building upon this, we are thrilled to be expanding our operations in Indiana through this planned USD $11 billion investment, which will create numerous well-paying job opportunities and tap into the state's burgeoning tech sector, while contributing significantly to the state's growing economy. This investment will include our continuing commitment to fostering workforce development and educational initiatives in areas where we operate, and we look forward to helping nurture the next generation of talent in the Hoosier State. We are excited to partner with Governor Holcomb, IEDC, and other state and local leaders to forge a path toward a brighter future for Indiana's tech landscape."

Community support

AWS's strategy in Indiana includes launching the AWS InCommunities St. Joseph County Community Fund, a grant programme focused on supporting initiatives in science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths (STEAM) education, sustainability, economic development, workforce training, inclusion, diversity, equity, and social wellbeing. The company is committing USD $100,000 to the fund, which will be managed by the nonprofit ChangeX and made available to a wide range of applicants, including individuals, schools, and local community groups, with grants of up to USD $10,000 for eligible projects. AWS views this as the first step in its long-term community engagement in the region.

In addition, AWS is launching a separate fund designed to encourage STEAM learning and awareness for primary and secondary school pupils. The fund aims to introduce programmes such as the We Build it Better initiative, which offers real-world STEAM experiences and industry-grade tools for middle and secondary school students. AWS describes this as a means of inspiring future interest and building essential skills in fast-evolving technical fields.

Education and workforce training

AWS plans to support a broad range of educational and workforce programmes in Indiana. Working with educational institutions and workforce development groups, AWS aims to help address the region's growing need for technology talent. Among the training opportunities, the company highlighted the Fibre Optic Fusion Splicing Workshop, a free two-day programme in new splicing techniques and equipment. Successful participants receive a fusion splicing certificate and direct connections to employers seeking broadband talent.

The Information Infrastructure Workshop is another initiative designed to help students and workforce professionals understand the data centre and cloud computing sectors. The series aims to create career pathways for those interested in building, connecting, and operating data centres.

Governor Holcomb commented on the investment, stating,

"Indiana's long-term economic strategy is paying dividends for Hoosiers as we cultivate the growth of critical sectors like technology infrastructure. Amazon has long been an important economic partner in Indiana, and we are excited to welcome AWS. This significant investment solidifies Indiana's leadership position in the economy of the future, and will undoubtedly have a positive ripple effect on the town of New Carlisle, the north central region and the state of Indiana for years to come."

Carl Baxmeyer, President of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, said,

"The AWS announcement today will be a generational boost to our local and regional economy, and we are excited for the opportunity to welcome the AWS team and workforce into our community. This new data center campus to be built in the Indiana Enterprise Centre (IEC) over the next decade will be a major employment center for all of northern Indiana. This project announcement also shows our alignment with the state's goal to create next level jobs that benefit all Hoosiers."