Amazon Data Center Being Constructed in Missouri: Governor Kehoe wants Missouri to be the next Silicon Valley

By Ella Aguilar
JEFFERSON CITY – On June 15th, Amazon announced its plans to invest $10 billion to construct a new data center campus in Montgomery City, the same county where Google will be placing their data center that was approved by Governor Kehoe on May 20th.
According to Governor Kehoe, “Projects like this create lasting benefits for local communities by supporting critical infrastructure improvements, generating new tax revenue for schools and public services, and strengthening the foundation for future economic growth.”
At a recent forum on artificial intelligence at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S & T) on June 18th, Governor Kehoe stated that he wants Missouri to be at the forefront of AI, saying, “The future of AI should not just happen in Silicon Valley, it should happen right here in Missouri, with Missouri workers, Missouri businesses, and Missouri communities leading the way.”
Many citizens of Missouri around the state have already made their opinion clear on social media on their opinion of AI and data centers being in their community, one community located in Festus that voted out each of their City Council members who were voting in favor of bringing a data center into their town.
Some of Missouri’s local candidates see this as Governor Kehoe being more concerned about taking care of the wealthy rather than their local communities.