Amazon announced plans to invest several billion dollars in Missouri to build a new data center campus in Montgomery County. The project is expected to create more than 400 full-time data center jobs, thousands of construction jobs, road and water infrastructure improvements, and hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for Montgomery County.
The new data center campus will support cloud computing technologies used for services such as remote work, streaming, hospital records, financial transactions, and other digital applications. Amazon said the project will also include more than $7 million in community contributions, including funding for emergency dispatch services, STEM education, sustainability programs, and a new community gathering space.
Since 2017, Amazon has employed more than 10,000 people in Missouri and supported another 10,000 jobs across areas such as construction, logistics, and professional services. The company said it has contributed more than $9 billion to Missouri’s GDP since 2010.
As part of the Montgomery County investment, Amazon is committing $3 million toward emergency dispatch services to support public safety infrastructure. The company also plans to make roadway improvements and build a new bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railway on Ellis Road.
Amazon will also contribute more than $1 million to build a large-scale community gathering space at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and will serve as a major sponsor of the county fair.
The company also announced more than $3 million for community programs focused on STEM education, skills development, sustainability, and local nonprofit organizations. This includes the launch of the Amazon Montgomery County Community Fund with a $150,000 commitment, managed by ChangeX, to provide grants of up to $10,000 for local community projects.
Amazon is also launching a $50,000 fund with the Montgomery County School District to provide teacher grants and school supplies, along with the Amazon Think Big Program, a STEM initiative designed to give students hands-on learning experiences.
Amazon said it has worked with Ameren Missouri to ensure the costs tied to the new data center campus are not passed on to other ratepayers. The company said the rates it pays are designed to cover the cost of its energy use.
The company also noted that it has invested in a carbon-free energy project in Missouri, generating 138 megawatts of energy, enough to power more than 28,000 homes.
Amazon said it is investing in the water infrastructure needed for the Montgomery County campus and plans to donate the completed system to Montgomery County Public Water Supply District No. 1 at no cost. The company said the system can then be used by the water district to expand service elsewhere in the community.
The data centers are expected to use outside air for cooling about 90% of the time and water for cooling 7% of the year or less. At full capacity, Amazon said the campus will use less than 0.1% of the aquifer’s annual recharge from typical rainfall. The site will also include a rainwater harvesting system expected to provide about 20% of annual water needs and an on-site recycling system that reuses water six times.
Amazon is also partnering with Arable Labs on an irrigation optimization project for farmers in northeastern Missouri. The project is expected to reduce water use by 100 million gallons annually within the local watershed.
The company said the community contributions are separate from the tax revenue the project is expected to generate. Amazon noted that the land where the data centers will be built previously generated less than $9,000 per year in property taxes, while the completed project is projected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for schools, roads, public services, and other county priorities.
KEY QUOTES:
“Projects like this create 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. Amazon’s continued investment into our state demonstrates confidence in Missouri’s workforce, business climate, and communities, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our local partners and residents.”
Mike Kehoe, Governor of Missouri
“Missouri has been home to Amazon since 2017 and more than 10,000 Missourians come to work with us every day. 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.”
“We’re building data centers that will create hundreds of new jobs, support educators and students, and strengthen local infrastructure. That includes $3 million to support local emergency dispatch services, and more than $1 million for a new community gathering space at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Our investment matters most when the community is better for it.”
David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer of Amazon
