Key Points:AI-assisted summary
• St. Joseph County is experiencing job growth, an increasing labor force, and record business investments.
• Amazon Web Services is investing $11 billion to build data centers, which is expected to create over 1,000 jobs.
• The county's population has been growing, a trend attributed to a low cost of living and job availability.
• In addition to Amazon, major investments from companies like Lippert, AM General, and Gurley Leep are set to further boost the local economy.
SOUTH BEND — While the nation continues to grapple with a tough job market, St. Joseph County remains ahead of the curve with growing jobs, an increasing labor force, and a series of record business investments slated to further fuel the local economy.
That's the news from the annual State of the Economy Breakfast that took place Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Morris Park Country Club, where 225 Chamber business members gathered to hear the county's latest labor stats and business trends.
Jeff Rea, president and CEO of South Bend Regional Chamber, shared data showing steady population growth in St. Joseph County, a trend he said is likely driven by the area's low cost of living and continued job growth.
Perhaps the project drawing the most attention is that of Amazon Web Services and its parent company's $11 billion investment in building data centers in St. Joseph County, the largest capital investment in state history. Amazon Web Services aims to create more than 1,000 jobs through the data centers. During the breakfast, Rea sat down with Amazon Web Services (AWS) leaders for an update on the centers and a deep dive into why AWS chose St. Joseph County for the site. The leaders emphasized that beyond the power capacity needed for the centers' infrastructure, community engagement and supportive state and local agencies are key when choosing optimal sites.
"We look at this really as a very long-term relationship," said Hilary Lambert, a director of economic development at AWS. "We take our stewardship with the community very seriously. We don't want to be in an environment that doesn't welcome the investment. [We want to] share a joint partnership for decades to come."
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