A day after announcing the opening of a 750,000 square-foot shipping center in Romeoville, Ill., Amazon today announced it would open a slightly larger fulfillment center in Jacksonville, employing some 1,500 people. It will be the third Amazon center in Florida. Centers in Lakeland and Ruskin employ a combined 3,000 people.
“Becoming a member of the Jacksonville community is very exciting for us as we grow our presence in Florida. We’re proud to be creating more than 1,500 full-time jobs to join the thousands we currently employ across the state,” said Akash Chauhan, vice president of Amazon’s North America Operations, in a company news release. “We look forward to continue building relationships in the community to make Jacksonville home.”
“This is a huge win for our city and citizens,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry in the release. “I am incredibly excited about the opportunities Amazon is bringing to our city, and specifically northwest Jacksonville, a community that will now serve as host to an international, state-of-the art fulfillment and distribution center. Their entry brings more than 1,500 new jobs, strengthens Jacksonville’s position as a destination for international business, and contributes to increased economic development growth and improved quality of life.”
Amazon offers employees programs like Career Choice, where it will pre-pay 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch four years ago, more than 7,000 employees in 10 countries have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.
Joe A says
Wishing that some day we hear these same words from some of our officials here in Flagler County, “This is a huge win for our city and citizens,” I thought they spent tax money to advertise to entice business to move here?
PeachesMcGee says
The citizens who want to work are already working in Flagler County. The rest have no desire to work. While the government officials can’t see this, prospective employers can.
Bill harvey says
Flagler county has garbage for descent jobs. Leaders here do not have the skills to bring in corporate America jobs. A hamburger joint here and a chicken joint there, great achievements.
robjr says
@Joe
The city of Palm Coast could have used taxpayer money to entice business. Instead they threw millions of dollars away so a select few could hit little balls down fairways or furry balls over nets.
The worst part is the town council is still throwing good money after bad.
jasonb says
Decent jobs? You ever work in one of those places? There was a great article written about what it’s like to work in that type of business, I will see if I can find it and post the link.
Sherry says
Here’s an idea of how much those jobs at Amazon pay. Although the average is only 25K without much of a career path. . . still better than flipping burgers, I guess: http://www.indeed.com/salary/Amazon-Fulfillment-Center.html
YankeeExPat says
First and Foremost, an Amazon fulfillment center would never be welcomed in Palm Coast due to the oversized sign on their building as it is in direct contradiction of Palm Coast signage restrictions.
Palm Coast history with business development is always an Epic Battle. Anyone who has lived in Palm Coast for more than ten years will remember the Outrage when the Home Depot first showed interest in opening their store on Boulder Rock Drive. The local Curmudgeonry predicted daily road rage and traffic pandemonium along with an unfair drain on preexisting local businesses for available employees. Unfortunately for Palm Coasters many of our elected officials still cling like grim death to the supposition that Palm Coast is still a retirement community that can fund its public services with property taxes alone.
Anita Moeder says
So not true Peaches. Many in Palm Coast and Flagler are still not working and they want to. The vast majority of jobs that are available here are low paying, making people work 2-3 jobs to try and get by. I see people desperate for work… :-(
David B says
I wouldn’t consider working at a Amazon Fulfillment a job. More like a low education assembly line. To me a job is requiring a college degree and being a professional. like I had.
Layla says
In other states, these jobs are going to H-1B visa holders and not American citizens. Why? Because they don’t have to pay for their healthcare and they can get away with paying low wages.
Let’s see who gets these jobs. Palm Coast has the worst reputation in Florida for doing business with. If you want a decent paying job, you will likely have to move away until our current crop of elected officials are either voted out of office or pass away. That’s just the way it is.