Data Center Census

Canton, Madison County, MS

Amazon Web Services Madison County Mega Site campus

Also known as Project Atlas, AWS Canton

OperatingFive of an expected 15–17 buildings operating as of spring 2026; expansion announced April 2026
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

Amazon Web Services operates a data center campus on the 927-acre Madison County Mega Site in Canton, one of two AWS campuses in Madison County (the other is in Ridgeland) announced in 2024 as a $10 billion investment. Five buildings were operating in 2026, and Amazon says it plans at least to double its presence there. In April 2026 the governor announced an additional $11 billion AWS expansion in Madison County.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size927 acres [2]
Mega Site in Canton; the Ridgeland campus is a separate 786 acres
Buildings5 [5]
operating as of April 2026, of an expected 15–17
Stated investment$10 billion [1]
original 2024 commitment covering both Madison County campuses (Canton and Ridgeland)
Stated investment$11 billion [3]
Madison County expansion announced April 2026
Permanent jobs (promised)1,000 [3]
2024 commitment across the Madison County campuses; 700 more announced with the 2026 expansion
Construction jobs6,000 [1]
6,000–7,000 construction workers, per 2024 reporting
Target completionWastewater reuse facility expected to begin operating in 2027 [5]

Power

UtilityEntergy Mississippi [4]
Backup generatorsOver 300 diesel generators at Canton (more than 700 across both Madison County campuses) [7]
Amazon has asked MDEQ to approve more than 100 additional generators across its two sites
Source excerpt
“Amazon's two Madison County campuses will house more than 700 diesel generators, over 300 of which will be located in Canton.”
Air permitMDEQ permits issued for backup diesel generators, allowing up to 100 hours a year of maintenance and readiness testing [7]
Source excerpt
“Under the permits issued by MDEQ, Amazon can operate its backup generators in Madison County for up to 100 hours a year for maintenance checks and readiness testing.”

Water

Water sourceCanton Municipal Utilities now; switching to treated municipal wastewater (Veolia facility) for cooling [4]
about 83 million gallons of treated wastewater per year

Money & incentives

Tax incentivesState package: 10-year 100% corporate income tax exemption, sales/use tax exemptions on construction and equipment, 3.15% construction rebate; incentives expire in 2057 [1]
Abatement term10 years [8]
discounted fee period for each data center, within a 30-year term
Source excerpt
“a third of what they'd typically owe in property taxes — for the first 10 years of each data centers' operations over a 30-year term.”
Payments / community benefitsFee-in-lieu agreement: discounted fees of one third of normal property taxes for the first 10 years of each data center's operations over a 30-year term [8]
Source excerpt
“a deal for the company to pay discounted fees — a third of what they'd typically owe in property taxes — for the first 10 years of each data centers' operations over a 30-year term.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. AWS confirmed as company behind $10 billion 'Project Atlas' in Madison County; Legislature passes incentive package [1]

  2. Site work and building pad construction under way at the Madison County campuses [2]

  3. Gov. Tate Reeves announces $11 billion AWS expansion in Madison County, part of $25 billion statewide [3]

  4. Five buildings reported operating at the Mega Site; Veolia wastewater partnership for cooling described [5]

  5. Amazon says it plans to at least double its presence at the Canton campus [4]

  6. Madison County Board of Supervisors upholds the tax assessor's valuation of five Canton data center buildings, rejecting Amazon's appeal [9]

Issues raised

  • Amazon is paying to expand Canton Municipal Utilities water capacity by 39% and the Beatties Bluff wastewater plant by 50% [4]

Sources

  1. AWS confirmed to be behind $10bn Mississippi data center development
    DatacenterDynamics · Jan 26, 2024 · news
  2. Construction industry steps up for Mississippi's grandest project: AWS
    Magnolia Tribune · Sep 8, 2024 · news
  3. Amazon continues Mississippi expansion, announcing plans to invest a total of $25 billion across the Magnolia State
    Office of Governor Tate Reeves · Apr 9, 2026 · government
  4. Where do Amazon's data centers in Mississippi stand?
    Mississippi Today · Jun 9, 2026 · news
  5. Here's how the water you flush could impact AWS in Madison
    WLBT · Apr 30, 2026 · news
  6. Amazon announces additional $12 billion for data centers in central Mississippi
    Mississippi Public Broadcasting · Apr 9, 2026 · news
  7. Amazon's Canton AI Data Center Brings Dust, Noise and Pollution Fears for Neighbors
    Mississippi Free Press · Feb 13, 2026 · news
  8. Canton and Madison County schools anticipate millions of dollars from Amazon data center fees
    Mississippi Today (via DeSoto County News) · Aug 25, 2026 · news
  9. Madison County Denies Amazon's Valuation Appeal for Canton Data Centers, Preserving Millions in Tax Revenue
    Mississippi Free Press · Aug 19, 2026 · news