Year End Roundup

Discuss the future of our user group in this online only, thirty minute lunchtime meeting.

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Draft Central PA AWS User Group Vision – 8DEC25
Positioning Central Pennsylvania as a strategic cloud and data hub for the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.
Data Centers: The New Keystone of Innovation
Central Pennsylvania is rapidly emerging as a national data infrastructure powerhouse. Fueled by geography, connectivity, and talent, the region is attracting billions in investment:

• Pennsylvania Digital I (PAX): A $15B hyperscale AI data center campus in Carlisle, delivering 1.35 GW capacity with expansion to 1.8 GW. Backed by PowerHouse Data Centers and Pennsylvania Data Center Partners.
• Northpoint’s Project Hazelnut: A proposed 15-building, 1,280-acre data center campus in Luzerne County, near Amazon’s nuclear-powered facility.
• Middlesex Township Development: A 700-acre plot repurposed for AI data centers, replacing a planned residential zone.

These projects are not isolated—they’re part of a regional transformation. Central PA offers:

• Strategic proximity: Over 170 million Americans live within a 10-hour drive of Harrisburg.
• Transportation arteries: I-81, I-83, I-76, and the Norfolk Southern rail corridor make the region a logistics hub.
• Internet backbone access: The Mid-Atlantic is served by high-capacity fiber networks including:

· Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities (MBC): 2,500 miles of open-access fiber with 400Gb/s backbone and DWDM long-haul transport.
· Direct peering with Ashburn, VA: The world’s largest internet exchange point, accessible via PAX’s fiber links.
Add to this tax incentives north of the Mason-Dixon line, and Central PA becomes a magnet for hyperscale and edge data center development.
Our Membership: Leaders and Learners
The Central PA AWS User Group thrives on collaboration and mentorship. We welcome:

• Experienced professionals: Architects, engineers, PMs, and CISOs who share insights and shape strategy.
• Emerging talent: Students, career changers, and early-career technologists eager to learn and grow.

Our guiding question: “What’s in it for me—and what can I give to others?” This dual mindset fosters a culture of generosity, growth, and innovation.
Cloud Clubs: Building the Next Generation
AWS Cloud Clubs are our bridge to the future. These student-led communities cultivate cloud fluency and leadership. We aim to mentor, sponsor, and integrate Cloud Clubs across Central PA institutions:

• Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
• Penn State Harrisburg & Penn State York
• Temple University Harrisburg
• York College of Pennsylvania
• Harrisburg Area Community College
• Widener Commonwealth Law School
• Dixon University Center
• Art Institute of York

We envision joint meetups, hackathons, and career pipelines connecting Cloud Clubs with our User Group and the region’s growing data center ecosystem.
What Do You Want to Say or Hear?
We invite practical proposals that showcase AWS in action:

• Case studies that solve real problems
• Workshops that teach hands-on skills
• Tool demos that spark curiosity and adoption

Whether you're deploying AI workloads, modernizing legacy systems, or building serverless apps—we want to hear your story.
Our Vision
Central PA is not just a place—it’s a platform. A launchpad for cloud careers, a nexus for data infrastructure, and a community where leaders and learners converge.
Join us. Shape the future. Build the cloud—right here in the Keystone State.