Why Amazon Is Betting $10B on Data Center Growth in Rural North Carolina

Data center growth is no longer confined to major hubs. Amazon’s $10 billion move into rural North Carolina shows why secondary markets are now in the spotlight. 

For landowners, it signals rising demand for utility-adjacent parcels. For developers, it opens the door to supporting infrastructure like housing, logistics, and energy services. And for local economies, it means long-term job creation, training programs, and new funding streams tied to high-growth industries.

This site analysis breaks down why Richmond County was selected and what this kind of investment means for the future of land development in secondary and rural markets.

Why Richmond County, NC Works

Richmond County is more than a quiet corner in North Carolina. It’s a case study in how rural communities can attract powerful digital infrastructure by combining cost advantages with strategic assets.

• Emerging Data Center Corridor: North Carolina is becoming a hub for hyperscale data centers, with Microsoft, Google, and Meta already established or investing. Amazon’s expansion into rural North Carolina is a sign of further expansion.
• Tax Exemptions: North Carolina provides sales and use tax exemptions for purchase of items related to data centers and their operations (computer software, energy, electricity, and business property).
• Abundant and Reliable Power Supply: The county has a significant advantage due to its proximity to the Duke Energy Sherwood H. Smith Jr. Energy Complex. The existing infrastructure helps reduce costs and accelerate power delivery for large-scale projects.

Power and Proximity: The Energy Advantage

The acquisition’s proximity to key energy assets checks every box:

• Natural gas availability for consistent base power.
  
  
• Nearby solar power plant for renewable supplementation.
  
  
• Multiple substations to support high load.
  
  
• Major transmission lines within direct access range.
  
  
• Adjacent to a Duke Energy-owned 405.24-acre parcel.

Community and Economic Development

Amazon isn’t just building in Richmond County—they’re investing in it.

The company will introduce specialized education and training initiatives, including:

• Fiber optic fusion splicing workshops.
  
  
• Pre-Apprenticeships for the next generation of data center operators.
  
  
• STEM learning programs for K–12.
  
  
• Training programs for data center and fiber technicians.

Amazon is also launching a $150,000 Richmond County Community Fund, offering grants up to $10,000 to support community projects.

Final Thoughts

This billion-dollar investment in Richmond County is just one example of the broader transformation underway across secondary and rural markets.

To see how these shifts are playing out nationwide, the Acres Data Center Index tracks where digital infrastructure is taking root and what it means for future land development.