Amazon grants $150K to fund long-term local partnerships amid data center debate
Amazon awarded $150,000 to 16 organizations in the Hermann and Montgomery County area through its community fund as it explores expanding its data center presence. Residents remain opposed to the company’s expansion and broader data center development, citing environmental and water concerns, while Google is building a nearby data center campus.
Amazon awarded $150,000 in grants to 16 organizations in the Hermann and Montgomery County area through its Montgomery County Community Fund. The funding will support local initiatives including housing and workforce planning, but Amazon regional community engagement manager Afrika Alsup said the company’s investment is intended to establish long-term partnerships as it develops data center infrastructure in the community.
Amazon is exploring a second data center site in Montgomery County, with its first facility expected to be online in June 2027. Google is also building a large data center campus across Interstate 70 from Amazon’s development.
Residents including Frank Davis, Angela Myers and Mike Hathaway said the grants had not overcome opposition to the projects. Critics objected to data center expansion on environmental and water-related grounds, while Amazon said its site-selection process considers infrastructure, environmental impacts, workforce availability, permitting and community priorities.