Amazon.com,
Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced plans to open a nearly 1
million-square-foot fulfillment center in Kent, Wash. Amazon will create
hundreds of full-time jobs at the site when it opens. This will be the
company’s fourth fulfillment center in the state. Amazon’s other
Washington fulfillment centers are located in Sumner and Bellevue, and a
DuPont site is near completion.
“We’re excited to bring hundreds of great full-time jobs with benefits
to Kent and proud to further invest in Washington state with this new
fulfillment center,” said Mike Roth, Amazon's vice president of North
America operations. “We are grateful to local and state elected
officials who have supported Amazon in bringing a new fulfillment center
to the state of Washington.”
“Amazon's expansion is great news for the people who will be working in
the hundreds of great jobs there, as well as for all of Washington,”
said Governor Jay Inslee. “Amazon is a marquee company for how
Washington innovation can change the world.”
Amazon offers hourly employees innovative programs like Career Choice,
where the company will pre-pay up to 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 last summer,
employees are pursuing degrees in game design and visual communications,
nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few. Amazon fulfillment
center jobs pay on average 30 percent more than traditional retail jobs.
In addition to highly competitive wages, Amazon also offers
comprehensive benefits on day one, bonuses and stock awards.
“Amazon’s latest expansion of their hometown footprint, bringing so many
great jobs, is extremely important to help grow and diversify the Kent
Valley economy,” said Brian Bonlender, director for the Washington State
Department of Commerce. “The company’s decision also highlights the
numerous advantages that attract and keep world-class employers in
Washington State, including a highly competitive business climate,
well-educated workforce and outstanding quality of life. We are proud
that Amazon continues to invest in our state and look forward to
supporting their growth.”
At the facility, Amazon employees will pick, pack and ship small items
to customers such as books, electronics and consumer goods.
“Amazon’s decision to invest in Kent is a tremendous vote of confidence
in our community,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke. “This announcement
signifies we have the infrastructure, the workforce and the
business-friendly climate needed to support a company like Amazon. This
bodes well for Kent’s future in attracting high-tech industries.”
IDS Real Estate Group and Clarion Partners are building the site as part
of a joint venture. To learn more about working at an Amazon fulfillment
center, visit www.amazonfulfillmentcareers.com.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com,
Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on
the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest
Selection. Amazon.com,
Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers
can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and
endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com
and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used
items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital
Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby;
Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors;
and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's
developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services
based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can
use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the
world's best-selling and most advanced e-reader. It features new display
technology with higher contrast, the next generation built-in light, a
faster processor, the latest touch technology, and exclusive new
features designed from the ground up for readers. Kindle, the lightest
and smallest Kindle, features improved fonts and faster page turns. The
new Kindle Fire HDX features a stunning exclusive 7" or 8.9" HDX
display, a quad-core 2.2 GHz processor, 2x more memory, and 11 hours of
battery life, as well as exclusive new features of Fire OS 3.0 including
X-Ray for Music, Second Screen, Prime Instant Video downloads, and the
revolutionary new Mayday button. The all-new Kindle Fire HD includes an
HD display, high-performance processor and dual speakers at a
breakthrough price.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com,
www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de,
www.amazon.co.jp,
www.amazon.fr,
www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn,
www.amazon.it,
www.amazon.es,
www.amazon.com.br,
www.amazon.in,
www.amazon.com.mx,
and www.amazon.com.au.
As used herein, "Amazon.com,"
"we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com,
Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly
from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to
competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international
expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and
data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements,
acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system
interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments
and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's
financial results is included in Amazon.com's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Copyright Business Wire 2014