AWS Invests $11 Billion in Georgia to Fuel AI and Cloud Growth

Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest $11 billion in Georgia, creating hundreds of high-skill jobs and solidifying the state's position as a technology hub. The investment will support the construction of data centers in Butts and Douglas counties, AWS announced yesterday.

The move, driven by the increasing demand for advanced cloud infrastructure and computing power for generative AI, will deploy cutting-edge AI infrastructure in Georgia, strengthening the state's position as an innovation center.

"Generative AI is driving increased demand for advanced cloud infrastructure and compute power, and AWS's investments will support the future of AI from data centers in Georgia," states AWS's announcement. "AWS data centers are flexible enough to efficiently run GPUs (graphics processing units) for traditional workloads or AI and machine learning models."

The investment marks a significant milestone in Amazon's long-standing commitment to Georgia. Since 2010, the company has invested $18.5 billion in the state, contributing $20.1 billion to its gross domestic product. The expansion is expected to create at least 550 new direct AWS jobs in technical roles. Thousands of additional construction jobs and positions in the data center supply chain are also anticipated.

Beyond job creation, AWS highlights its commitment to the Georgia community through its Disaster Relief Hub in Atlanta, which has been instrumental in delivering essential supplies to those affected by recent hurricanes. The company has also invested heavily in renewable energy, with eight solar farms in operation, generating enough clean energy to power an estimated 123,000 homes.

"AWS's ongoing infrastructure investments across the United States demonstrate our relentless commitment to powering our customers' digital innovation through cloud and AI technologies," said Roger Wehner, vice president of economic development at AWS. "We are delighted to expand our infrastructure into Georgia with this planned multibillion-dollar investment, which we expect to create more than 550 well-paying jobs and drive significant economic growth for the state."

Local leaders have expressed enthusiasm for the investment, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on their communities. Dr. Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County Commission Chairwoman, called it a "historic day" for the county, while Russ Crumbley, chairman of the Butts County Board of Commissioners, highlighted the investment's significance as the most significant in the county's history.

AWS's commitment to community engagement includes offering training programs like a Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Workshop, which equips individuals with skills in-demand in the field of fiber broadband. The company also plans to bring STEM education programs to Georgia, such as Girls' Tech Day and Think Big Spaces, to inspire and educate the next generation.

"We are pleased and proud that Amazon Web Services, a world technology leader, has chosen to locate new data centers in Butts County," said Russ Crumbley, chairman of the Butts County Board of Commissioners. "Their investment will be the most significant in Butts County history, and represents a truly collaborative effort for more than a year by the Butts County Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority of Butts County, the Butts County Water and Sewer Authority, and the Butts County School System. Each entity worked diligently with AWS to ensure that the investment—which will enable significant infrastructure improvements throughout our community—will benefit the citizens of Butts County for decades to come."