“Amazon is excited to break ground on its first New Mexico fulfillment center in Bernalillo County. The site is anticipated to launch in late 2021 and will create 1,000 new, full-time jobs with Amazon’s minimum $15 per hour wage, comprehensive benefits starting on day one of employment and opportunities for career growth. We appreciate the strong support from county and state leaders and look forward to continuing to serve customers with great delivery options across the state and region,” Amazon Spokesperson Lisa Gunn said.
Amazon will join FedEx, Shamrock Farms, and Tempur-Pedic at Upper Petroglyphs Industrial Park. New Mexico will no longer be the only state in the southwest without an Amazon fulfillment center, having to be served by the company’s centers in Phoenix and Denver.
Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, who represents the area, sponsored the $6.5 million appropriation; she said she is “energized by the opportunity to activate this well-positioned site, which has been under leveraged for far too long.”
O’Malley noted Upper Petroglyphs Industrial Park right off I-40, minutes away from the Big-I and near Double Eagle Airport, was a huge draw for Amazon; the addition of Amazon at the industrial park will help balance the currently disproportionate amount of housing, compared to jobs available on Albuquerque’s westside.
O’Malley says the county’s $6.5 million incentive grant will pay infrastructure improvements including, but are not limited to, street extensions and improvements, installation of curbs, gutters, lighting and paving necessary for future development.In a press release, the county says infrastructure improvement will include things like street extensions, installation of curbs, gutters, lighting and paving.
Public improvements made possible through the county’s investment are also making way for the first Amazon fulfillment center in the State of New Mexico, county officials said.
“This important initiative represents further investment in Bernalillo County’s employment zone at I-40 and Atrisco Vista,” said Bernalillo County Commission Chair Lonnie Talbert. “As a result of this strategic investment by Bernalillo County, we know Amazon will be the first of many major employers to join this thriving region, and we could not be more excited or honored to welcome them.”
Phoenix-based BH DevCo is the developer of the Amazon facility, and Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies is the general contractor.