Delivery expansion
Amazon bringing two more facilities to Mid-south, will hire hundreds in Memphis and Mississippi.
Amazon announced Thursday it would add two more “state-of-the-art” facilities in the Memphis area.
The online retail giant said it would open another delivery station in Memphis and a fulfillment center in Byhalia. Amazon said it expects to hire hundreds at each facility, but did not give specific figures about how many jobs would be created.
Full-time employees at the sites will have a starting $15 per hour salary as well as full medical, vision and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50% match. Amazon said it also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and paternal leave and other benefits for parents.
The company said the delivery station would be located on Hawkins Mill Road. Delivery stations aid in the socalled “last mile” delivery efforts and the company has been adding more of them around the country to speed up delivery times.
Mayor Jim Strickland said “Amazon continues to deliver” new jobs to Memphis.
“From day one Amazon has been such a great partner, and we’re so happy they are continuing to expand their footprint in Memphis,” he said in a statement.
Amazon has more than 450 delivery stations nationally, with four in Tennessee. This will be the second in Memphis.
While the pandemic has disrupted many industries, e-commerce boomed, allowing the giant Seattle-based company to continue to grow. Amazon said it hired more than 14,000 people in Tennessee last year — it did not specify how many it hired in Memphis — 38% of whom were unemployed at the time of their hiring.
Ted Townsend, chief economic development officer for the Greater Memphis Chamber, said: “Memphis moves the world” when it comes to logistics.
“Amazon has that confidence in our city and our workforce and with the addition of hundreds of new jobs at their North Memphis facility, Amazon will now employ over 5,000 Memphians,” he said.
The fulfillment center in Byhalia will deal with packing and shipping large items including mattresses, kayaks, grills and exercise equipment, Amazon said.
“This new facility in Marshall County demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to Mississippi and shows how much the company values our workforce,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. “Projects like these help create vibrant communities, stronger local economies and a stronger tax base.”
The company hired 1,500 employees across Mississippi in 2020.
George Zinn III, president of the Marshall County Board of Supervisors, said it would be the second Amazon facility in the county.
“Amazon has provided hundreds of career opportunities to our region, and we support their continued growth and job creation,” Zinn said. “We look forward to continuing to work with Amazon to foster long-term investment and positive economic growth in our community.”
Corinne Kennedy covers economic development, soccer and COVID-19’S impact on hospitals for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal.com or at 901-297-3245.