Amazon promises $7M in community contributions to rural Mo. amid local opposition to data center
Amazon announced plans for a new data center in Montgomery County, Missouri, pledging $7 million in community contributions. This follows Google's ongoing data center construction in the same county. Local residents have filed a lawsuit to halt both projects, despite support from Governor Mike Keough.
Amazon has announced plans for a new data center in Montgomery County, Missouri, located approximately an hour and a half west of St. Louis. This development marks the second data center project in the county, following Google's existing construction. Amazon's facility is slated to utilize water cooling technology, and the company has committed to investing $7 million in the local community, which will support irrigation for farmers, first responders, and the county fair. Additionally, Amazon is expected to receive about $2 million in local tax abatements from Montgomery County.
Despite the economic incentives and support from state officials like Governor Mike Keough, who praised the benefits data centers can bring, the projects have faced significant local opposition. Residents of Montgomery County have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the construction of both Amazon's and Google's data centers. The plaintiffs argue that the county did not properly evaluate the projects.