Amazon.com, Inc. will open a new fulfillment center in Orlando creating 1,500 new, full-time jobs. The 850,000 square-foot center will be a highly technological workplace featuring Amazon Robotics.
“We are excited to join the Orlando community, creating more than 1,500 full-time jobs at our new fulfillment center,” said Akash Chauhan, Amazon’s vice president of North America operations. “We very much appreciate the state and local elected leaders who have supported Amazon’s arrival in Orlando and we look forward to bringing more jobs and investment to the state in the coming months.”
Amazon employees will pick, pack and ship small items like books, electronics and consumer goods to customers.
“I am proud that Amazon has chosen the Orlando area as the best location for their new fulfillment center. Amazon is already a major job creator in Florida, and we’re proud that they are continuing to invest in our state and create new opportunities for our families,” said Governor Rick Scott. “Today’s announcement is a reminder of the important role of Enterprise Florida and local economic development agencies who have worked to market our state so we can outcompete other locations for these major jobs wins.”
Amazon has created more than 4,000 full-time jobs in Florida since building its first fulfillment center in the state in 2013. The new fulfillment center will bring Amazon’s workforce in the Sunshine State to more than 9,000.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Amazon to Central Florida, and look forward to this legendary innovator becoming a part of our community,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “We’ve worked hard to expedite permitting and other County functions in order to get this new type of fulfillment distribution center – including Amazon Robotics and a significant investment in technology – up and running. This is a huge win for Central Florida and a wonderful opportunity for our entire community, including the 1,500 employees who will join the Amazon team and all those who will benefit from Amazon’s well-known commitment to the local community.”
Full-time employees at Amazon receive highly-competitive pay, health insurance, disability insurance, retirement savings plans and company stock. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility with their growing families.
“Florida’s business climate continues to beat out other states, and we are proud to see Amazon choose the Orlando area for a new fulfillment center,” said Mike Grisson, interim president and CEO of Enterprise Florida. “The workforce, infrastructure and overall business friendliness in Florida lead the nation and this is apparent as our economy continues to grow.”
Amazon also offers full-time 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, over 10,000 employees have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.
“Amazon’s decision to select Orlando for its next major investment is a tremendous win for the Orlando region,” said Tim Giuliani, president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership. “It says a lot about our status as a major employment hub in the United States when a global leader in ecommerce chooses to add more than 1,500 new jobs in our community. Amazon is a great addition to our region with programs that provide full benefits to employees while also encouraging workers to further their education and improve their skills through a tuition reimbursement incentive.”
“OUC is proud to be part of the team that brought Amazon to our community,” said Roseann Harrington, Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Community Relations, Orlando Utilities Commission. “Working together, we’re helping companies make a power move to Orlando where the payoff is greater reliability, better rates, deeper connections to our community and a greener future. We look forward to serving them and their employees.”
The project is being developed in a partnership between Seefried Industrial Properties and an affiliate of USAA Real Estate Company. Tavistock Development Company entitled and sold the property, and will develop the infrastructure for the project.