COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a move to further solidify Ohio as a technology hub in the Midwest, Amazon’s profitable cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has announced plans to invest approximately $7.8 billion by the end of 2029 in expanding its data center operations in central Ohio. Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who leads the governor’s technology office, made the announcement on Monday, emphasizing the significance of this investment for the state’s technology and innovation sector.
AWS initially launched its data centers in the region back in 2016 and currently operates campuses in two counties in central Ohio, including the capital city of Columbus. The company is now considering various locations for its new data centers, and the final selection is expected to be announced later this year.
“Ohio became a very attractive place for us place back then. It’s even more attractive today as we continue to operate there and build out data centers,” said Shannon Kellogg, Amazon’s vice president of public policy. “It’s a great place to do business.”
This new investment makes AWS responsible for the second-largest private sector investment in Ohio’s history, trailing only Intel’s $20 billion chip plant announced last year. Other tech giants like Facebook and Google also have data centers in Ohio, contributing to the state’s growing prominence in the technology industry.
While AWS has faced some challenges in recent times due to companies reducing cloud computing expenses amid concerns of high inflation and a potential recession, the company remains committed to Ohio. Since 2015, AWS has already invested over $6 billion in the state and sees this new investment as part of its long-term strategy. Roger Wehner, the economic development director for AWS, stated that the investment would also include workforce development and educational programs aimed at fostering collaboration and partnerships across the state.
The new AWS data centers will house computer servers, data storage drives, networking equipment, and other essential infrastructure for cloud computing. The existing AWS operation in Ohio employed around 1,000 people as of last year. With this investment, an estimated 230 direct new jobs and approximately 1,000 support jobs are expected to be created.
The state of Ohio, through its privatized economic development office, JobsOhio, is enthusiastic about the economic opportunities brought by this investment. JP Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, believes that this venture will further strengthen Ohio’s position as a technology center, benefiting both the state’s economy and the workforce.
With Amazon’s substantial investment in Ohio’s cloud computing operations, the state aims to solidify its status as a major technology hub in the Midwest and continue attracting high-tech companies to drive economic growth and innovation