- Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest $11B in new data centers across Butts and Douglas counties in Georgia to expand its cloud infrastructure.
- The investment is expected to create at least 550 high-skilled technical jobs, like data center engineers and security specialists.
- AWS acquired hundreds of acres of land in Georgia, including a $64.7M purchase in Douglasville and a lease for 543 acres in Butts County.
- The expansion aligns with growing demand for data center capacity driven by AI technologies and cloud services, with vacancy rates in top markets below 1%.
Amazon Web Services (AMZN) has unveiled plans for an $11B investment in Georgia, one of the state’s largest infrastructure projects, according to CoStar.
The tech giant will develop multiple data centers in Butts and Douglas counties to support its expanding cloud computing and AI services.
Investment Details
AWS’s multibillion-dollar investment will establish a series of state-of-the-art data centers across Georgia. Recent acquisitions include a 129-acre property in Douglasville purchased for $64.7M and a 543-acre leased site in Butts County.
The data centers are expected to generate at least 550 high-skilled jobs, including roles for engineers, network specialists, and security experts. However, specific project timelines and facility completion dates have not been disclosed.
Georgia offers tax incentives for data center development, which AWS could benefit from, though the specific incentives awarded remain undisclosed.
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The Bigger Picture
The expansion comes amid a nationwide surge in data center demand, driven by the rapid adoption of AI and cloud-based services. Leading US markets like Northern Virginia, Chicago, and Atlanta have reported data center vacancy rates below 1%, with demand projected to keep rising.
Large-scale projects are becoming more common, with the average land purchase for data centers reaching 224 acres in 2024, up 144% from 2022, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
What’s Next
The surge in AI technologies and cloud services has intensified the need for secure, scalable data centers, and AWS’s investment signals confidence in Georgia’s capacity to support this digital transformation.
But AWS isn’t stopping there, with recent commitments of $23.8B in Ohio through 2030 for additional data center projects. future retail consolidations as companies aim to adapt to shifting consumer behaviors and economic pressures.
