Amazon hiring at recently launched robotics facility
Amazon’s newest facility physically fills the gap left by the former Pontiac Silverdome, a site known well by Torre Brown.
Brown, an operations manager at the new facility and Pontiac native who has lived in the city for over 35 years, is in charge of making sure millions of books, laptops, beauty products and more reach their destinations.
A graduate of Pontiac Central High School and Oakland University, he had his first date with his wife in 2000 at a Detroit Lions game at the Silverdome. Before that, he worked there selling popcorn.
He recently moved back from a regional manager position in Pennsylvania.
“That was hugely important to me (to come home) because I’ve seen the good times in Pontiac and the down times,” Brown said.
Originally announced in 2019, the 823,000-squarefoot Pontiac Robotics Fulfillment Center near M-59 and Opdyke Road opened Sept. 8. Orders are picked and packed at the location before being shipped to customers.
Jessica Pawl, spokesperson
for the company, said construction on the facility began in late 2019. She said Amazon received no tax breaks, adding that the company does not share developmental costs.
Since 2010 Amazon says it has invested more than
$6 billion statewide and created more than 21,000 jobs.
“We saw a growing demand within southeast Michigan so it made sense to bring about a second Amazon robotics fulfillment center in Michigan,” said
Fred McPherson, general manager at the location.
The first such center is located in Romulus.
The Pontiac facility is one of three new Michigan sites that were recently opened. The other two include a fulfillment center in Huron Charter Township designed to receive, store and package heavy or bulky items; and a warehouse in Walker, a Grand Rapids suburb,which delivers to southwest Michigan customers.
Future expansion includes facilities in Delta Township in 2022; Canton in 2022, and Grand Rapids in 2022 or 2023.
The Pontiac facility will employ over 1,200 people. As of Sept. 15, McPherson said 1,000 employees have been hired, adding that the company is planning to add more for the upcoming holiday season.
Health and safety remains Amazon’s No. 1 priority, McPherson said. The company offers health and well-being programs, he said, along with wellness centers and stretching and hydration stations.
“It’s talked about every day,” Brown said. “It’s the first thing we talk about every meeting with any employees.”
McPherson added that due to the Delta variant, Amazon has a mandatory mask order in its facilities accompanied by social distancing and other protocols. Previously, those who proved their vaccination status could work without masks.