HAMLET — More than two dozen Richmond County organizations were recognized Tuesday for the grants they have been awarded by Amazon Web Services.
Amy Jaballah, community engagement manager, welcomed the crowd to Amazon’s Richmond County Community Fund Celebration at Cole Auditorium.
“When we first joined your community…we committed to being a good neighbor and partner and working alongside you all to build lasting and meaningful support,” Jaballah said. “And we’re just getting started, folks.”
When local, state and corporate leaders announced last summer that Amazon Web Services would be investing $10 billion for a 20-building data center complex in the Energy Way Industrial Park south of Hamlet, there was also mention of the Richmond County Community Fund to supply grants of up to $10,000 to educational institutions and nonprofits.
At Tuesday’s event, Jaballah said that 28 local organizations received a total of $200,000 in funding.
Jaballah said those organizations “represent the heart of what makes this community strong: neighbors stepping up to solve challenges and building a more resolute future together.”
In the short time she’s interacted with those in Richmond County, Jaballah said she’s learned that “this is a community that cares for each other.”
Amy Jaballah, community engagement manager with Amazon, speaks about Richmond County's commitment to the community.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“You’re willing to step in, and you care deeply about the prosperity of the community and the prosperity of each other,” Jaballah said. “And it really has been wonderful to be a part of that and to see that.”
Jeff Smart, chairman of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, said the partnership between the county and AWS continues “to grow and flourish.”
“You can see … the commitment that they have to our community,” Smart said. “They’re giving away money so it will be spent here in Richmond County and people will benefit from it.”
One of the grant recipients was local science museum Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham.
Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham Director Angela Watkins talks about how the museum's grant from Amazon will be used.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Director Angela Watkins said the grant will help facilitate the museum's Cradle to Career initiative that introduces students to job skills.
One of the classes, targeted at middle schoolers, “allows them to explore circuits, thermal energy and that all-important skill of teamwork that’s needed so much in jobs that are available today,” Watkins said.
“We would like to thank Amazon for this opportunity to continue to support Richmond County Schools, and support our children and our community,” Watkins added.
Other local grant recipients are:
In November, Amazon announced that it would be helping the Hamlet Fire Department with a new substation on the data center campus which will also serve the surrounding area.
