ROCKINGHAM — During County Manager Bryan Land’s monthly report at the October commissioners meeting, he shared several updates about the Amazon project, which continues to be one of the county’s most significant economic developments.
Back in June, Richmond County and state leaders announced that Amazon Web Services will invest an estimated $10 billion in an AI data center campus, marking the largest single capital project in North Carolina’s history. The investment is expected to generate at least 500 new jobs over the next five years.
“Amazon project continues to be our main focus weekly as economic development activity remains at all time high in Richmond County,” Land said.
According to Land, crews from Walbridge Construction and Phillips had mobilized on the site the previous week to begin timbering, site clearing and grubbing on the 850-acre project. The next phase, set to begin as early as late October, will consist of bulk excavation and site grading.
To keep residents informed, Land said he will begin sharing drone footage of the project every two to three months during commissioners meetings to show ongoing progress.
Land also reported that a notice has been issued to S&L Contracting to begin the Energy Way sewer project on Nov. 3.
“Project is slated to take around 300 days to substantial completion. And once again, we’re very excited about this project getting kicked off and it will be serving the wastewater needs of our Amazon project out in Energy Way Industrial Park,” said Land.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Amazon project will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Cole Auditorium in Hamlet.
In addition to the Amazon updates, Land said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Moe Green will tour Richmond Senior High School and Richmond Community College on Oct. 27.
“The main focus will be highlighting the educational needs that Amazon will be focusing on here in the next six to nine months,” said Land.