Amazon Web Services announces $10 billion data center expansion in Ohio
Image: AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled plans to invest an additional $10 billion to expand its data center infrastructure throughout Ohio, marking the second-largest private sector investment in the state’s history.
The investment, announced by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, JobsOhio, and the Ohio Department of Development, is expected to create hundreds of high-paying jobs by 2030 and continue boosting Ohio’s growing reputation as a tech hub.
Why it matters
As digital services, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) become critical to modern industries, AWS’s substantial investment positions Ohio as a leader in technology infrastructure, innovation, and workforce development. This represents the second-largest private sector investment in state history, underscoring Ohio’s appeal to global tech leaders.
The details
AWS’s expanded data center infrastructure will include cutting-edge servers, storage, networking systems, and technology supporting AI and machine learning capabilities
The $10 billion investment builds on AWS’s previous commitments, including a $7.8 billion investment announced in 2023 and over $6 billion invested through 2022
AWS’s total planned investment in Ohio since 2015 now exceeds $23 billion
What they’re saying
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted the importance of AWS’s role in Ohio’s economy: “As reliance on digital services continues to grow, so does the importance of data centers; they are critical to today’s modern economy. AWS’s substantial investment in Ohio will help keep our state at the forefront of the global technology.”
Lt. Governor Jon Husted added, “These are significant investments from AWS that support Ohio’s growing reputation as the tech hub of the Midwest.”
Roger Wehner, Vice President of Economic Development at AWS, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the state at the time of the announcement, "Today, we reaffirm our long-term commitment to Ohio with plans to invest an additional $10 billion to expand our data center infrastructure in greater Ohio to drive innovation in AI for customers."
J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio added, “Thanks to the growing number of data center leaders in our state, Ohio has emerged as one of the nation's foremost technology centers, helping us attract business innovators that hadn’t previously considered locating here. AWS was the first major cloud provider in our state and their success has helped pave the way for the explosive growth we’re seeing now.”
The economic impact
Since launching its first Ohio data center in 2016, AWS has made significant contributions to the state’s economy:
$10.3 billion invested between 2015 - 2023
An estimated $3.8 billion contribution to Ohio’s GDP during that period
Support for over 4,760 jobs annually across high-demand sectors such as software development, telecommunications, and facilities maintenance
What’s next
AWS will evaluate additional locations for the data centers outside of Central Ohio, pending local approvals and energy service agreements. Construction will occur in phases, with a focus on further workforce development and educational partnerships to equip Ohio’s tech talent for the jobs of tomorrow.
AWS’s $10 billion expansion is a transformative investment that enhances Ohio’s role in the national tech economy. As data centers play an increasingly vital role in driving AI and digital services, this move positions the state as a destination for innovation, business growth, and high-paying technology careers.