Boardman, OR – Blue Mountain Community College recently joined Amazon and community partners in celebrating the company’s 15 years in Eastern Oregon. The milestone recognized Amazon’s continued investment in the region and partnerships supporting education, workforce development, and local communities.
BMCC has partnered with Amazon since 2015, when the two organizations worked together to launch the College’s Data Center Technician program. Since then, Amazon has invested more than $700,000 in scholarships for the program through the BMCC Foundation, helping prepare students for careers in the region’s growing data center industry.
During the celebration, Amazon highlighted its broader economic and community impact in Eastern Oregon, including $54.8 billion in direct investment in the region since 2012. Amazon’s presence also represents approximately 2,500 direct jobs. Beyond its economic investment, AWS has contributed more than $9 million in local causes since 2021, while employees have dedicated more than 10,000 volunteer hours since 2020.
The event also highlighted AWS’s approach to water use at its Eastern Oregon data centers. AWS shared that the facilities operate waterless 93% of the year and use water just 7% of the year. As part of its broader sustainability efforts in the region, AWS returns approximately 955 million gallons of water annually to regional water systems.
“This is a shining example of how education and industry can work together for the betterment of students and our region,” said BMCC President, Dr. J. Mark Browning. “Our partnership with AWS is key to helping us meet our critical mission of providing responsive and high-quality, innovative education and training that support the needs of our area.”
For BMCC, the longstanding partnership reflects the College’s commitment to connecting education with the workforce needs of Eastern Oregon. Through programs such as Data Center Technician and AWS Information Infrastructure Pre-Apprenticeship (I2PA), BMCC provides students with opportunities to develop in-demand skills and prepare for careers within the communities they call home.
