$10 Billion--Madison County to reap big benefits from AWS investment
The largest economic development project in the history of Mississippi promises not only to create jobs but also to put dollars in the coffers of the Madison County Schools and the Canton Public School District as well as the city of Ridgeland and Madison County Board of Supervisors. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a $10 billion investment in Madison County, Mississippi, which includes constructing multiple data center complexes in two of the county’s industrial parks and committing to 1,000 jobs. The project is expected to create jobs and contribute to the coffers of the Madison County Schools, the Canton Public School District, and the city of Ridgeland. For the first 10 years, the data center is in place, the school would receive an increase of approximately $8.5 million annually from the fee Amazon pays in lieu of taxes, which would almost double its annual budget. The second 10 years the data centers will be in Madison, Holmes Community College would receive a increase of about $1.2 million annually, and Madison County would receive about $30 million annually in additional revenue for a total of $600 million spread over 20 years.
发表 : 10 个月前 经过 在 Tech
The largest economic development project in the history of Mississippi promises not only to create jobs but also to put dollars in the coffers of the Madison County Schools and the Canton Public School District as well as the city of Ridgeland and Madison County Board of Supervisors.
Earlier this year, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a $10 billion investment in Madison County that includes constructing multiple data center complexes in two of the county’s industrial parks and committing to 1,000 jobs with salaries averaging $70,000 annually.
One data center complex will be located in Ridgeland on 750 acres at Highland Colony Parkway and West County Line Road and the other on 1,000 acres that are part of the county’s mega site at 1978 Highway 22.
“The impacts to Madison County Schools, the Canton Public School District and Holmes Community College are going to be phenomenal,” said Joey Deason, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority, who worked five years on the deal.
- For the first 10 years the Amazon Web Services data center at the mega site is in existence, the Canton Public School District would receive an increase of approximately $22 million annually from the fee Amazon pays in lieu of taxes, which would almost double the district’s annual budget. The total for those years is about $220 million.
For the second 10 years the data center is at the mega site, the Canton Public School District would receive an increase of about $40 million annually. That equals about $400 million.
- For the first 10 years the data center is in Ridgeland, the Madison County Schools would receive an increase of approximately $8.5 million annually from the fee Amazon pays. That totals about $85 million.
For the second 10 years the data center is in Ridgeland, the Madison County Schools would receive an increase of about $12.5 million annually. That equals about $125 million.
- For the first 10 years the data centers are in Madison County, Holmes Community College would receive an increase of approximately $1.2 million annually from the fee Amazon pays. That comes to about $12 million.
For the second 10 years the data centers are in Madison County, Holmes Community College would receive an increase of about $2.1 million annually. That equals about $21 million.
- The city of Ridgeland would receive about $4 million annually in additional revenue for a total of $80 million spread over 20 years.
- Madison County would receive about $30 million annually in additional revenue for a total of $600 million spread over 20 years.
“It’s trivial to say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I don’t know how to express the magnitude of it,” said Marty Wiseman, Ph.D., emeritus professor of political science and emeritus director of Mississippi State University’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development.
No doubt the funding will create opportunity and, along with that, the need for good advice and wise plans for spending.
“They can’t spend like there’s no tomorrow,” Wiseman said. “The first thing to do is for everyone to get their wits about them and go slow. The school boards, the city of Ridgeland and Madison County need to be intentional about the plans they make and how they plan to pay for improvements they make.
“It would be a shame to fritter it away on luxuries, but they can afford some luxuries.”
And with his characteristic humor, Wiseman added in reference to those involved in pushing the project forward: “I’m sure someone is doing an end zone happy dance.”
So far none of the entities on the receiving end of the potential funding have gone out on a limb to announce specific plans for the dollars still in the distance.
As Ridgeland Mayor Gene F. McGee put it: “It’s always better to be sure how much the revenue will be before we start spending it.”
The funding will be useful, he said, since the city of Ridgeland plans to build a new fire station and that will require hiring more personnel and more police officers. Plus, the city will always have a need for street maintenance, he said.
McGee promised: “We will work with our staff to be sure we cover the needs of the area.”
Gene A. Graham, director of communications for Madison County Schools, said the additional funds would “contribute to ensuring continued excellence, likely through supporting ongoing capital improvements to keep up with growth and maintain top-notch facilities as well as to expand career and technical education programs in the district.”
An A-rated district for the last decade, Madison County Schools is dedicated to being the best district for its students, faculty, families and community, she said.
“In fact, every campus in our district rated A or B in 2023, and we have exemplary career academies in every attendance zone that have been recognized with model status by the National Career Academy Coalition,” Graham said. “We are committed to providing outstanding opportunities for our students in academics, the arts and athletics.”
Ken Hackman, who teaches zoology at Madison Central High School, said even a top-rated school district can always use more funding as can individual teachers, who often use their own money to enhance their classrooms. At his own expense, he maintains in his classroom numerous tanks and aquariums filled with all sorts creatures for the benefit of his students.
Gerald Steen, who represents District 3 and serves as president of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, expects infrastructure improvements such as roads and drainage will likely be the way the county uses funding from the fee in lieu of taxes.
“It’s definitely a game changer for Madison County,” he said about the county landing AWS. “It will help the county financially so we can continue to look at infrastructure.”
Steen expects Madison County will continue to improve thanks to investment by AWS and that the quality of life there will be even better.
Plans call for numerous data centers to be constructed at each (Amazon) campus, Deason said. “The numbers are yet to be determined,” he said.
The job site entrance to the Ridgeland campus off West County Line is visible, and there’s construction under way at the mega site, he said.
The first building at the mega site is expected to be operational in 2025, which would mean the Canton Public School District would receive a payment in 2027, Deason said. Madison County Schools would receive its first payment in 2028, based on the construction dates as they are currently known, he said.
Amazon Web Services has committed to 1,000 jobs, but Deason considers the numbers of jobs and the average wages are “conservatively low.”
The entire metro area, particularly Madison County, the city of Ridgeland and the city of Canton, should benefit from the estimated 3,000 construction workers who will be in the area during the next five years working on the data centers, he said.
“Some of these contractors I know already have RV spots in Rankin County,” he said.
The entire metro area should benefit from the jobs, Deason said.
“At the end of the day, we all share the same workforce,” he said. “There will be people who work at the data centers who live in the city of Jackson, Rankin County and Clinton.”
The Legislature appropriated $44 million to the project, none of which will be used for facility construction. Of that, $32 million is directed for workforce training through community colleges and other workforce programs with the rest to get the project off the ground. The state also will provide a loan of $215 million primarily for sewer improvements and for other infrastructure work.
Bill Cork, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, indicated a study by the state economist projects the state should recover funds it committed to the project within 10 months.
Steen expects AWS to deliver on everything it has promised “plus some that hasn’t been discussed yet.”
Deason expects the investment by Amazon Web Services to surpass the $10 billion mark.
“I think $10 billion is a conservative number,” he said. “I think there will be more from AWS.”
话题: AWS