North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Amazon and Corning Inc. announced a multibillion-dollar agreement to supply optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions for Amazon’s expanding data center infrastructure across the United States, a move expected to support hundreds of construction jobs and create 1,000 manufacturing positions in North Carolina.
The investment will support expansion projects at Corning manufacturing facilities across the state, generating hundreds of construction jobs and adding 1,000 highly skilled manufacturing jobs, according to the companies.
The agreement comes as Amazon continues to expand its cloud computing infrastructure to meet growing demand for data center capacity. Corning, a manufacturer of advanced glass and fiber optic technology, will provide the fiber optic products used to connect and support Amazon’s data center operations.
“This multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning continues that commitment, channeling investment into American manufacturing and creating 1,000 new jobs at their facilities near our data centers,” Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, said in a statement.
The agreement builds on Amazon’s previously announced plans to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand cloud computing infrastructure. Since 2010, Amazon said it has invested more than $20 billion in the state and created more than 26,000 jobs.
“Amazon’s investment will help us expand production, create 1,000 new advanced manufacturing jobs at our facilities, and lead the way toward building a resilient U.S. manufacturing base,” said Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks.
The companies also announced plans to expand Corning’s Fiber Optic Technician Training Program in partnership with Catawba Valley Community College. The program will provide training for careers in fiber optic manufacturing and related technical fields.