Welcome to Mississippi Marketplace, our new roundup of economic and business news from around the state. This week we’re focusing on the artificial intelligence boom in Mississippi. 

Amazon is building two data centers in Madison County. An eight-building complex is coming to Meridian. An Elon Musk affiliate recently bought a power plant in DeSoto County, near Memphis. 

The companies behind the data centers will invest $20 billion, an unprecedented amount, contributing to local government revenues and creating new jobs.

However, data centers create relatively few jobs. And there’s concern about the environmental impacts of data centers and the amount of energy required to power them, and whether that will impact household power bills down the line.

But with the AI boom underway, more data centers are in the works around the country. BlackRock estimates that investment in data centers and AI chips could reach $700 billion a year by 2030. 

What do you think Mississippi’s role will be in the AI boom, and what can the state be doing to take advantage of it? Let us know what you think at marketplace@mississippitoday.org.

Elon Musk’s xAI establishes a foothold in Mississippi 

An affiliate of Elon Musk’s xAI has purchased a former natural gas power plant in DeSoto County, according to the Daily Memphian. While the company has been tight-lipped about its plans in Mississippi, Memphis’ mayor “suspects” that it will power xAI’s new supercomputer facility, Colossus 2, in Memphis. 

• No details have been released about when the plant will be up and running but in an interview with CNBC in May 2025, Musk said that Colossus 2 would be done in six to nine months. 
• Memphis residents have been critical of xAI’s presence, especially the environmental impact and strain on the city’s electric grid.

Readying Mississippi’s workforce

Mississippi currently lags behind in AI talent and innovation, according to several reports, but recent investments are working to change that. Governor Reeves in June announced a $9-million commitment to AI workforce development and announced a partnership with Nvidia Corporation to expand AI education. A Brookings Institute report described the program as, “a fundamental shift in how states approach AI talent cultivation.” 

For interested Mississippians:

• Applications are open for a four week paid course at Hinds Community College’s Jackson campus to prepare people for careers in Amazon’s upcoming data centers, which will be located in nearby Madison County. The data centers are expected to open in 2027 and will create 1,000 new jobs. The full-time program will run August 18 – September 16 at the Jackson campus. Learn more. 
• Belhaven university launched a masters in AI program joining the growing ranks of education initiatives and programs in the state.

Other News: Mississippi unemployment up, biz friendliness ranking increases, Nissan delays EV production

• Mississippi had the largest unemployment rate increase year-over-year in June, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics going from 2.9% in June 2024 to 4.0% in June 2025. The June rate is unchanged since April. Over the same yearly period, the national unemployment hovered around 4.1%. 
• It’s been a tough year for cotton farmers with falling prices and higher costs, according to the Roy Howards Community Journalism Center.
• Mississippi improved its rankings in CNBC’s ranking of the best states to do business in, going from 49th to 45th place placing in the top 15 for cost of doing business and cost of living.
• This month, Nissan delayed production of three EV models at its Canton plant. The company told The Tennessean that delays were “not related” to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill ending EV tax credits.
• Three of Mississippi’s business organizations are merging into one. The Mississippi Business Alliance is expected to be up and running by January 2026.

Have economic or business news? Email Katherine Lin at marketplace@mississippitoday.org.