The Shreveport Buzz wraps up your day better than a burrito—stuffed with all the things you love! Trust me, your evening will thank you.

Tonight's edition is packed with game-changing news that'll make you proud to call northwest Louisiana home:

- ☀️ Amazon drops a whopping $12 billion investment in our backyard
- 🍸 The Picklr brings championship pickleball to the Louisiana Boardwalk
- 🐾 Plus all the events to keep you busy through Thursday

— Ordavion Charleston

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Holy smokes, Shreveport! We just landed the biggest tech investment in our region's history. Amazon officially announced Monday that they're building a massive $12 billion AI data center campus spanning both Caddo and Bossier parishes — marking the tech giant's first data center investment in north Louisiana.

This isn't just about servers and wires, folks. We're talking about 540 high-paying on-site jobs at 150% above the state average wage, plus another 1,700 supporting jobs throughout our community. Construction kicks off in the coming weeks, with around 1,500 construction jobs during the build-out phase.

Governor Jeff Landry couldn't contain his excitement: "Amazon is making a long-term commitment to Louisiana because our state delivers — prime sites, strong infrastructure and a skilled, hard-working workforce ready to support the next generation of technological innovation." The project will generate significant tax revenue for both parishes, strengthening funding for schools, public services, and infrastructure.

What makes this deal even sweeter? Amazon is covering 100% of the utility infrastructure costs, meaning zero impact on your electric bills. They're also investing $400 million in water infrastructure improvements. As Governor Landry put it: "We are making generational changes and it starts with what we are doing today."

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Saturday was a big day down at the Louisiana Boardwalk as The Picklr Bossier City officially opened its doors with a grand celebration that had paddles swinging and spectators cheering along the riverfront.

This isn't your average recreational facility — we're talking about a 39,000-square-foot indoor paradise featuring 11 professional-grade, championship-sized courts with climate control, advanced sound baffling, locker rooms with showers, and a fully stocked Pro Shop. They've already signed up over 315 founding members before even opening day!

What sets this location apart is The Brine, a full-service restaurant led by chef Gabriel Balderas (you know him from El Cabo Verde and Zuzul). The restaurant features an outdoor deck with sweeping river views, perfectly blending sports and social experiences. Chris Phillips, franchise partner, explained their vision: "Our mission is to provide world-class pickleball experiences, foster meaningful community connections, and make the game accessible for players of all ages and skill levels."

The facility will host tournaments, leagues, youth academies, skills training, corporate events, and The Picklr Academy for instruction. With pickleball boasting 48 million players nationwide in 2024, this addition signals what developers hope will be "a new start of the Boardwalk."

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🎭 CineNoir Black Voices in Film — 7:00 PM
Downtown Shreveport — Celebrating Black cinema and storytelling

🏆 Shreveport World of Wheels — All Day
Convention Center — Classic cars, hot rods, and automotive excellence

🛍️ SUSLA Black History Month Vendor Pop-Up — 6:00 PM
SUSLA Campus — Local vendors and community celebration

🎵 Live Music Night — 8:00 PM
Various venues throughout downtown — Check local listings

🍺 Trivia Night — 7:00 PM
Multiple locations — Test your knowledge and win prizes

🏀 High School Basketball — 7:00 PM
Local gyms — Support our student athletes

🎨 Art Gallery Walk — 6:00 PM
Downtown arts district — Explore local creativity

The $12 billion Amazon data center project represents more than just a single company's investment — it's a testament to successful regional cooperation. The North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) coordinated efforts between Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish, and the City of Shreveport to make this historic deal possible.

NLEP President Justyn Dixon emphasized the regional impact: "By spanning both sides of the Red River, this project quite literally bridges our communities and ensures opportunity flows across the entire region. When we compete and win as one region, we create jobs, strengthen families, and build long-term prosperity."

The state's incentives package includes participation in Louisiana's High Impact Jobs and Data Center Sales Tax Exemption programs, plus comprehensive workforce development through LED FastStart.

Cooler temperatures are settling in as we head toward the weekend, so grab that jacket for your evening plans!

Wednesday, February 25th

🌤️ Partly Cloudy | 🌡️ High: 77°F / Low: 61°F
💨 Wind: Light breeze | 💧 Chance of Rain: 10%

Thursday, February 26th

⛅ Cloudy | 🌡️ High: 66°F / Low: 57°F
💨 Wind: Southwest 10-15 mph | 💧 Chance of Rain: 40%

📌 Note: Perfect weather for checking out that new Picklr facility or catching some of those downtown events!

🎸 Local Legends @ Bears Fairfield — 8:00 PM
Classic rock covers and crowd favorites

🎤 Open Mic Night @ Noble Savage Tavern — 9:00 PM
Showcase your talent or enjoy emerging artists

🎹 Jazz Ensemble @ Abby Singer's Bistro — 7:30 PM
Smooth jazz and fine dining atmosphere

🎵 Country Night @ Twisted Root Burgers — 8:00 PM
Line dancing and local country bands

Picklr, Shreveport, LA

📷 Flickr | Robert W

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Hope you found a nugget of gold today—now spread the wealth by sharing this newsletter!

What an incredible time to be in Shreveport-Bossier! Between Amazon's massive investment showing the world that northwest Louisiana is ready for the future, and The Picklr bringing world-class recreation to our riverfront, there's never been more reasons to be proud of calling this place home.

Whether you're planning to check out those championship pickleball courts, catch some live music downtown, or just enjoying knowing that 540 high-paying tech jobs are coming our way, remember that every great story in this community starts with neighbors supporting neighbors.

Love what you're reading? Share the Shreveport Buzz with friends and family to keep them in the loop! 🐝

Until next time, Shreveport — stay buzzing! ✌️

— Ordavion Charleston
Publisher, Shreveport Buzz