Amazon to Build $100M Fulfillment Center in Akron
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Amazon will open two new fulfillment centers in Ohio, including one in Akron, that will create more than 2,500 full-time jobs in the state.
The two centers – the second is in Rossford, south of Toledo – will each be more than 700,000 square feet and will be the origin point for deliveries of small items such as books, toys and electronics.
The Akron site will be at the former Rolling Acres Mall and will employ 1,500, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Construction on the $100 million project is expected to begin in September. It will use a mix of human workers and automated sorting robotics.
“Ohio has been a great place to do business, serve customers and create jobs; as a result, we are thrilled to develop two state-of-the-art fulfillment centers in Akron and Rossford,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We’re excited to grow our team in the Buckeye State, which now includes more than 8,500 Amazonians, and be part of the larger Ohio community.”
The announcement Monday morning garnered praise Gov. Mike DeWine and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, whose congressional district includes Akron.
“These jobs will be a boon for our local economy here in Summit County and across northeastern Ohio,” Ryan, D-13 Ohio, said in a statement. “Today’s announcement is a testament to our talented workforce and tight-knit community. None of this would be possible if we weren’t in this together.”
Added DeWine, “Amazon continues to demonstrate confidence in the great workforce and e-commerce business climate we have in Ohio.”
The projects are being developed in partnership with Seefried Industrial Properties, Duke Realty, the Development Finance Authority of Summit County, and the Wood County Port Authority.
Wages start at $15 per hour – in line with Amazon’s company policy for minimum wage – and employees will also have full medical, vision and dental insurance and a 401(k), the company said. Employees at the distribution center will also have access to training program such as Career Choice, which pays for up to 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand job fields.
Since 2010, Amazon said it has invested more than $5 billion in the state through its customer fulfillment and cloud infrastructure, and compensation to its employees. Using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 19,000 indirect jobs on top of the company’s direct hires.
“Amazon has been a strong partner in Ohio, creating more than 8,500 jobs here that have brought benefits and health care on day one,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and chief investment officer. “JobsOhio and our regional and local partners welcome these new facilities that will employ 2,500 Ohioans, revitalize an Akron neighborhood, and bring Amazon’s largest northwest Ohio investment to Rossford.”
Locally, Amazon earlier this year completed a delivery station in the Youngstown Commerce Park in North Jackson. There, drivers complete last-mile deliveries for the online retail giant.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
