Amazon Plans $20 Billion Investment in AI, Cloud Infrastructure in Pennsylvania

Amazon is leaning even more heavily into tech, continuing its mission to shore up business on two fronts: artificial intelligence and cloud computing services.

According to a June 9 Amazon press release, the company is slated to invest at least $20 billion in Pennsylvania with the aim of expanding its AI and cloud infrastructure. In the process, it believes it will create approximately 1,250 high-skilled jobs while also supporting “thousands more in the AWS [Amazon Web Services] data center supply chain.”

In particular, Salem Township and Falls Township have been targeted as the first two communities that will play host as sites for these innovation campuses, although a slew of other Pennsylvania communities are currently being considered for future expansions.

David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, weighed in on the matter.

“Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar investment in Pennsylvania reinforces our dedication to advancing AI innovation while creating lasting economic opportunities in the state,” Zapolsky said.

“By expanding our cloud computing infrastructure, we’re investing in Pennsylvania’s future through new jobs, workforce development programs, and community initiatives. We look forward to helping drive the next generation of technology innovation, while delivering meaningful benefits for Pennsylvania residents,” he added.

Amazon noted that these latest AI and cloud computing innovation campuses join a host of operational facilities across the state, including 20 last-mile delivery stations and 23 fulfillment and sorting centers. The company has, according to its own records, invested more than $26 billion in Pennsylvania since 2010.

Amazon’s Pennsylvania AI and Cloud Innovation Investment Creating Jobs

The jobs marker seemed to be front and center in the reportage surrounding this most recent Amazon investment, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaking out on the subject in remarks captured by the press release.

“Pennsylvania is competing again — and I’m proud to announce that with Amazon’s commitment of at least $20 billion to build new state-of-the-art data center campuses across our Commonwealth, we have secured the largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.

“This initial investment from Amazon will create thousands of good-paying, stable jobs as Pennsylvania workers build, maintain, and operate the first two data center campuses in Luzerne County and Bucks County… With this historic announcement, we’re creating opportunity for our workers, generating new revenue for our local communities, and ensuring the future of AI runs right through Pennsylvania,” he added.

The announcement appeared to generate bipartisan support, with GOP U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick giving Shapiro his laurels in landing the deal, one which is both indicative of “the Pennsylvania renaissance” and “transcends political parties.”

“Pennsylvania has been struggling. We’ve been in decline, losing jobs. And this, I think, is giving people a vision of a Pennsylvania that’ll be growing and prosperous,” McCormick added, per The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.