Lawmakers in Mississippi will convene for a special session within the session to finalize a $10 billion economic development project in Madison County.
The special session will begin on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Gov. Tate Reeves is calling on Republicans and Democrats in both chambers to appropriate $44 million to ensure the large data center sets up shop in central Mississippi. SuperTalk Mississippi News has confirmed that the company is likely Amazon Web Services.
“It’s truly a monumental day for Madison County, for metro Jackson, and for the state of Mississippi,” Reeves said, adding that this project will be the largest in state history. “It is truly a testament to the people of Mississippi that major companies are choosing our state for innovative jobs just like these. It is further proof that our state is doing what it needs to do to drive further economic growth and position Mississippi as a national leader in innovation.”
The $10 billion project, which could feature subsequent phases, will begin at two different locations in Madison County if terms are agreed on by lawmakers. On top of the $44 million in pure appropriations, the state is being asked to loan $215.1 million to the county, the vast majority of which will go to the extension of a sewer system.
The two hyperscale data center complexes will have sites outside of Canton at the Madison County Mega Site and on the Costas Property west of Tougaloo College and near County Line Road in Ridgeland. The salaries will hover at or above $66,000 for 1,000 plus jobs created with the two initial complexes aiming to open in 2027.
“I think $10 billion is the start. It is not the end of what this company and other companies are going to invest,” Reeves said. “I don’t think this company is going to stop investing in the Jackson metro after these two sites are full.”
As for tax breaks, Reeves explained that this project will receive similar preferences to those of other economic projects the state has brought in recently.
“The tax breaks that are included in this specific deal are not different than the data center tax breaks that are already in statute basically,” Reeves said. “Those commitments will include a 10-year, 100 percent corporate income tax exemption, sales and use tax incentive good for construction and for any investment made 12 months post-construction. We’re going to do a 90 percent rebate on the contractor’s tax and the sales and use tax equipment for the facilities’ perpetuity.”
Joining the Republican governor on stage during Wednesday’s press conference were Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Jason White, both of whom vowed to do their best to get the necessary legislation through to move forward with the project.
“As the governor said, this is game changing. This new industry that we’re bringing in is state-of-the-art for the world and the country and they came to Mississippi. And they came here because we earned it,” Hosemann said. “We’re really looking forward to the session and expediting this through the Mississippi Senate.”
If approved by the legislature, this will be the second major project Mississippi has finalized over the past week. Last Thursday, lawmakers opened the door for a $1.9 billion electric vehicle battery production plant in Marshall County. The plant is also set to open in 2027.
