How Amazon is investing in Louisiana

Key takeaways

Amazon has invested more than $6 billion in Louisiana since 2010 and contributed over $6 billion to the state's economy.
The company has more than 8,500 full- and part-time employees and supports more than 8,000 indirect jobs.
Amazon partners with nine educational institutions in Louisiana through its Career Choice program and has upskilled over 1,100 employees since 2019.
More than 22 million items were sold by Louisiana-based independent sellers through Amazon's store in 2025.

For more than 30 years, Amazon has been investing across the United States, strengthening local economies and creating opportunities for communities nationwide. Louisiana is a prime example of this commitment, with Amazon building a substantial presence in the state since 2018.

Two Amazon employees stand in a fulfillment center with Proteus, Amazon's autonomous mobile robot, operating in the background.

Amazon employees at a fulfillment center where Proteus, Amazon's autonomous mobile robot, works alongside team members to move heavy carts and reduce repetitive tasks.

Today, the Pelican State serves as a thriving innovation and logistics hub for Amazon, with investments spanning fulfillment centers, to new data center campuses, and Whole Foods Market locations. The company's economic impact extends beyond our more than 8,500 full- and part-time employees, to indirectly supporting more than 8,000 additional jobs in construction, logistics, and professional services, and helping local businesses reach customers around the world.

Here are six ways Amazon is investing in Louisiana.

1. Creating good jobs and economic opportunity

Amazon provides competitive wages and comprehensive benefits from Day 1. Operations employees in customer fulfillment and transportation earn an average hourly base wage of more than $23, with total compensation averaging more than $30 an hour when including benefits. These benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance starting on Day 1 for most employees, free mental health resources, up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave, a 401(k) with 50% company match, and flexible time-off options that increase with tenure.

Beyond more than 8,500 direct jobs, Amazon's presence in Louisiana supports more than 8,000 indirect jobs in industries such as construction, logistics, and professional services—suppliers and partners whom we rely on every day.

2. Supporting workforce development and upskilling

Amazon is committed to preparing its workforce for future opportunities through comprehensive education and skills training programs. Since 2019, more than 1,100 Louisiana employees have participated in these free initiatives.

In Louisiana, Amazon partners with nine educational institutions through its Career Choice program, which prepays tuition for employees pursuing further education. These partnerships with colleges and universities across the state help Amazon employees gain in-demand skills that can propel them into new careers. From Machine Learning University to Career Choice, these programs represent Amazon's investment in developing talent and creating pathways to opportunity for its workforce.

3. Building operations across Louisiana

Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $6 billion in Louisiana's infrastructure and employee compensation, contributing more than $6 billion to the state's gross domestic product. These investments include five fulfillment and sortation centers, four delivery stations, four rural super rural delivery stations, and other facilities across the state.

An Amazon employee works with autonomous robot Proteus at a fulfillment center.

An Amazon employee works with Proteus at a Shreveport fulfillment center.

The company has also expanded its retail footprint with seven Whole Foods Market locations across Louisiana. Amazon continues to grow its sustainable infrastructure as well, with a solar farm in the state that will bring up to 200 megawatts (MW) of new carbon-free energy onto the grid, helping to increase overall energy supply and support long-term electricity affordability across the region.

4. Investing in critical infrastructure responsibly

In 2026, Amazon announced $12 billion in planned investment in cloud computing infrastructure in northwest Louisiana, which is estimated to create 540 high-skilled jobs and support 1,710 across the data center supply chain.

Amazon worked with the local utility, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), to ensure we pay 100% of the costs associated with our new data center campus in Louisiana. This includes covering all expenses for new energy infrastructure and upgrades required to serve the data centers, which also strengthens overall grid reliability for all SWEPCO customers.

These data centers will use only verified surplus water, which is water that exceeds what the community requires for current needs, ensuring no strain on local water supplies. Amazon is also planning to invest up to $400 million in local water and sewer infrastructure to responsibly source the water needed to support the site, enhance system efficiency, and strengthen resilience.

5. Empowering Louisiana's small businesses

Amazon provides a powerful opportunity for Louisiana's entrepreneurs and small businesses to reach customers worldwide. Louisiana-based independent sellers—primarily small and medium-sized businesses—sold more than 22 million items through Amazon's store, with the average seller generating more than $190,000 in annual sales.

Kristen Preau, founder of Jambalaya Girl, a New Orleans-based business selling pre-packaged Cajun food based on her family's recipes through Amazon's store.

These independent sellers represent more than 60% of sales in Amazon's store. Their success contributes significantly to local economies, with more than 65% of U.S. independent sellers employing at least one person within 50 miles of their primary business location.

By providing infrastructure, logistics support, and access to millions of customers, Amazon enables Louisiana's small businesses to scale their operations and create additional jobs throughout the state.

6. Being a good neighbor

Amazon uses its global scale and strengths to make a positive impact in communities. Working with trusted community partners, we address critical needs—food security, education, disaster relief—using our logistics, technology, and innovation, while investing as a good neighbor in the communities where our employees live and work.

In 2025, Amazon delivered more than 7,000 meals on behalf of food banks and nonprofits across the state. The company reached more than 7,000 students and 900 teachers through education programs and supported more than 100,000 computer science learning hours. More than 200 Amazon employees volunteered in communities across Louisiana.

This year, we launched the Amazon Northwest Louisiana Community Fund, which will provide $250,000 for community projects across Caddo and Bossier Parishes and the greater Shreveport area, focusing on STEM education, sustainability and environmental initiatives, health, well-being, military veterans support, and local needs.

Read more about how Amazon is investing in Louisiana and the U.S.