SHREVEPORT, La. - Amazon is expanding its investment in Northwest Louisiana to $18 billion with plans for a third data center campus — this one in Shreveport.Â
The company announced Tuesday it will invest another $6 billion in the region to develop the new campus at Resilient Technology Park on Greenwood Road.
Justin Dixon, president and CEO of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, said the investment will bring jobs and additional tax revenue to the region.
"This is about jobs and investment. And now we're a community that has an Amazon Fulfillment Center, the most technically advanced in the world. We have an Amazon last mile facility, and now we have multiple Amazon data centers employing 750 people here in Caddo," said Dixon.
The other two data centers are located along State Line Road outside Shreveport city limits and near Benton in Bossier Parish.Â
Across its three data center campuses, Amazon expects to create up to 750 permanent full-time jobs. Officials say those positions will pay more than $90,000 a year.
The campuses are also expected to support about 2,250 construction jobs. The new Resilient Technology Park campus is expected to have about 210 permanent jobs.
Amazon data center supply solutions director Keith Klein said the company will pay for infrastructure needed to serve the campuses.
"We made a promise. Amazon pays its own way," said Klein.
Amazon plans to invest up to $400 million in public water infrastructure for the three campuses. The company said the investment will not affect customers' water bills.
Amazon also said it is working with SWEPCO to ensure the power grid can handle the additional demand without passing the cost on to ratepayers.
"We've worked closely with SWEPCO to ensure the grid is prepared for future demand and that the cost of serving our facilities are not passed on to ratepayers," said Klein.
The new campus will use outside-air cooling for about 87% of the year, according to Amazon. Water would primarily be used for cooling during the hottest days.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said the city has enough water capacity to serve the project.
The city can produce about 78 million gallons of water per day, while its highest daily flow has been about 55 million gallons, Arceneaux said.
Amazon also said more than half of the subcontractor and vendor contracts awarded so far have gone to local companies.
The first building at the new campus is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
Amazon said it is also working with local schools and technical colleges to help prepare workers for jobs at the data centers.
KTBS has submitted a records request to gather more details about the project.
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