Amazon announced this week that it will build a fulfillment center in Palm Beach County, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area.
The new center will be in Jupiter which communities across the Sunshine State–Miami, Jacksonville, Davenport, Orlando, Ruskin and Lakeland–in having Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers. Amazon’s new center will be in the Palm Beach Park of Commerce which is west of I-95.
“Amazon is proud to serve customers across Florida and we are excited to open a new fulfillment center in Palm Beach County,” said Melissa Nick, Amazon’s director of worldwide corporate operations, on Thursday. “Amazon is committed to providing great jobs with industry-leading pay and benefits, starting on day one, in a safe, innovative work environment, and to be a good partner in the communities in which we operate.”
Nick offered some insights on why Amazon continues to expand in Florida.
“Our growth in Florida is the result of an outstanding workforce, strong local support, and incredible customers, and we are pleased to add hundreds of new jobs to the more than 30,000 Amazonians already working in the state,” she said.
Amazon stressed the investments it has made in Florida, including, as Nick noted, creating more than 30,000 jobs through investing more than $9.5 billion.
“These investments have contributed an additional $9 billion to the Florida economy and have helped create 29,000 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires – from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services. In addition, more than 140,000 independent authors and small and medium businesses in Florida are selling to customers in Amazon’s store, creating thousands of additional jobs across the state,” Amazon noted.
“Associates at the more than one-million-square-foot facility will work alongside innovative technologies to pick, pack and ship larger customer items such as mattresses, kayaks, grills and exercise equipment. In addition, Amazon will hire for roles in human resources, operations management, safety, security, finance and information technology,” Amazon noted about its plans for Palm Beach County.
Kelly Smallridge, the president and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, offered some thoughts on why Amazon was continuing to expand in South Florida in general and Palm Beach County in particular.
“The addition of a third Amazon facility in our county is another boost to our logistics and distribution industry,” said Smallridge. “Palm Beach County has earned a reputation as a top business destination with an extremely competitive talent pool. The county’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department’s expedited permitting program also played a critical role in bringing this project to fruition. We look forward to a long, successful relationship with Amazon that benefits our community, their clients, and employees alike.”
Reach Kevin Derby at [email protected].
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