Amazon invests $10B, adds 500 jobs for data center between Charlotte and Raleigh
Amazon is bringing a data center campus to North Carolina, investing $10 billion into the project and creating at least 500 jobs.
About 70 miles east of Charlotte and 100 miles west of Raleigh, the internet retailer plans to expand its AI and cloud computing infrastructure with a new campus in Richmond County, according to a news release from the company and the state.
The 800-acre site in Rockingham’s Energy Way Industrial Park will feature 20 buildings ranging in size between 200,000 to 225,000 square feet, as reported by Business North Carolina.
The investment is one of the largest in state history and continue to make North Carolina attractive for other tech companies, Gov. Josh Stein said in a news release. “(Amazon) will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs and an economic boost to Richmond County,” Stein said.
What is Amazon bringing to NC?
Amazon has a longstanding presence in North Carolina.
Since 2010, the retailer has invested $12 billion through fulfillment and distribution centers, including its first robotics fulfillment center near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
In January, Amazon announced that it would be opening a same-day delivery warehouse in Kannapolis, employing 100 people at the site that operates 24/7.
It’s unclear how long it will take Amazon to build out the new campus, but Business NC reported that the retailer received a 20-year incentive package from the Richmond County’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.
That deal included cash grants and is contingent on Amazon creating 50 jobs with a $1 billion investment by the end of 2030.
Besides the center, Amazon will start training and education programs at local colleges, universities and technical schools. The retailer is also launching the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund. It’s committed $150,000 for grants to support STEM education and workforce development.
“This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer.
Data center investments in North Carolina
Amazon is just the latest company ready to bring data centers and AI technology to the Charlotte region and the rest of the state.
Digital Realty Trust, an Austin, Texas-based data center builder, is planning to bring the state’s largest center to west Charlotte, after receiving a rezoning approval from the Charlotte City Council in May. That center will be 3 million square feet and support up to 400 megawatts of IT capacity.
Though delayed, Microsoft is still planning to build a $1 billion data center in Catawba County.
In Caldwell County, Google said it was considering expanding its existing data center. It would invest $600 million for a new site in Lenoir, near Hickory.
And Apple is planning to expand in the state. Its data center in Maiden, about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte, opened in 2010.
In February, the tech company said North Carolina would be part of its $500 billion U.S. expansion plans. That plan includes expansion in Catawba County and the Raleigh area, even though it announced last year it was delaying its project in the Triangle by four years.
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
