Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion in new data centers in St. Joseph County.
The centers, which power cloud computing, will create at least 1,000 new jobs.
“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,” said Roger Wehner, AWS director of economic development, in a press release.
Support from Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. was instrumental in landing the large capital investment.
“Amazon has long been an important economic partner in Indiana, and we are excited to welcome AWS,” Gov. Holcomb said. “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.”
According to Amazon, the company has invested $21.5 billion in Indiana since 2010 and created 26,000 full- and part-time jobs. It also has implemented four solar and one wind farm.
“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,” said Carl Baxmeyer, president of the St. Joseph County board of commissioners. “This new data center campus to be built in the Indiana Enterprise Center 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.”
AWS also will invest $7 million to improve road infrastructure surrounding the development in New Carlisle, just west of South Bend. The Indiana Enterprise Center gets water from the town of New Carlisle, sewer from South Bend, natural gas from NIPSCO and electric from I&M/AEP. Canadian National and Norfolk Southern and the Chicago South Shore railroads service the site. The site also is 7 miles from the South Bend International Airport and connects by major highways to the Port of Indiana at Burns Harbor.
The IEDC provided “sales tax exemptions for eligible capital investments over a 50-year term,” according to a press release. It also offered the following performance-based tax credits: $18.3 million for workforce; $5 million for training; $55 million for business investment; and $20 million for redevelopment.
The company also is launching a grant program to support community programming for education, sustainability, economic and workforce development, and other initiatives. It already has committed $100,000 to the fund.
The Indiana Enterprise Center includes 2,920 acres for tenants such as American Electric Power, Air Gas, Carris Reels, Edcoat, Five Star Sheet, Gavilon Grain, Helena Chemical,Cleveland-Cliffs Tek and Kote, Just Packaging, Navistar, R&L Carriers, Red Hen Turf Farm, St. Joseph Energy Center, Smith Ready Mix, and Alkegen.
Caption: Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion in new data centers in St. Joseph County. (Provided by Amazon)
