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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Amazon.com To Invest $135 Million & Create 1, 350 New Jobs in Virginia

12/22/2011
Amazon.com has announced plans to open a 1.1-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, representing an investment of $50 million and the creation of 350 new jobs. The facility will be located in the Dinwiddie Commerce Park.

Additionally, the Seattle-based Fortune 500 firm will establish another 1.1-million-square-foot fulfillment facility in neighboring Chesterfield County, investing $85 million and creating 1,000 new jobs at Meadowville Technology Park. A new exit from I-295 to the park, paid for with federal, state and local funds, has just opened.

Combined, these announcements represent the largest creation of new jobs by a single company in the Commonwealth of Virginia in more than seven years. Moreover, this is the largest number of jobs created in Dinwiddie County in over 14 years. "We look forward to opening two new Amazon facilities in the Richmond area next year, bringing tens of millions of dollars and hundreds of new jobs to the state," said Dave Clark, vice president of Amazon's North American operations, in a statement released by state officials. "We're grateful to Governor McDonnell and other state, county and local officials for their commitment to our investment in Virginia."

Virginia's Governor Robert McDonnell approved a total of $3.5 million in grants from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist with the two projects. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $850,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds and $2.7 million in grants for the Dinwiddie project, and Dinwiddie County also committed $270,000 of grant-matching funds.

Amazon.com is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities.

Amazon.com is planning to commence operations at these new Virginia facilities in late 2012 - in time for the holiday season, when it typically generates 35 percent to 40 percent of its annual sales, according to its public financial reports.

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