By Darren Svan | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – As part of their community outreach work, Amazon and STACK Infrastructure awarded 46 local projects with nearly $500,000 in grant money at an event held at Bossier City’s East Bank.
Amazon’s community fund provided $400,000, while STACK, the tech giant’s development partner, chipped in the remaining $100,000. Amazon Web Services is constructing two multi-billion dollar data center campuses in Caddo and Bossier parishes.
Two Amazon representatives and a handful of STACK employees were in attendance Wednesday at the Chef’s Table by BeauxJax on Barksdale Boulevard.
When Amazon enters a new market, it typically provides community investments and looks to establish long-term partnerships, said Afrika Alsup, community engagement manager at Amazon, whose Northwest Louisiana Community Fund awarded grants of up to $10,000.
“It’s great when you recruit great companies like Amazon and STACK that give to the community before they ever get here,” said Justyn Dixon, president and CEO at North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “Seeing all the lives that will be changed is truly a remarkable day, and I am glad to be a part of it.”
The grants will support a broad range of community needs, including food assistance, youth mentoring and workforce training, emergency services for victims of violence, housing for homeless families and veterans, and transportation assistance for justice-impacted individuals. Funding also will strengthen neighborhoods through revitalization projects, community dinners, mentorship programs, accessibility improvements, and public art initiatives.
“I think it’s a wonderful entrance into our market for Amazon to come to northwest Louisiana and employ people in our community and also contribute back to our community,” said Kristen Powers, chief executive officer of The Arc Caddo-Bossier, who received $10,000.
The Arc is a private, non-profit that provides services and supportive programs for infants, children, teens and adults with disabilities and their families.
“The nonprofit organizations that are represented here today, along with us at the Arc Goldman School and Child Development Centers, are a great cross section of the care that is provided in this community,” Powers said. “And how wonderful is it that Amazon wants to be a part of that.”
Government entities, schools and colleges were also recipients, such as Bossier 4-H, Elm Grove Middle School, Southern University at Shreveport, Centenary College of Louisiana and Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Foundation.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office “Friends of Safety Town” was awarded $10,000, which will help purchase safety kits for domestic violence victims.
“So when those victims come to us, we can provide help for their personal needs, and ensure that they are able to operate without having to go back to their residence to pick up any items that they may need,” said Sheriff Henry Whitehorn.
“We’re excited that people are really paying attention to what’s going on with domestic violence,” Whitehorn said. “April 19 changed the way we think in Caddo Parish, as it relates to domestic violence.
“I’m just glad that people are understanding what we’re trying to do, and then wanting to be a part of it,” he said. “We are thankful for Amazon for this initiative and this support, and hopefully it will go a long way toward domestic violence prevention.”