Amazon: 3 New Texas Fulfillment Centers in 2013
- Jan 31, 2013 | Gail Cole
The news is out. Amazon has announced it will create three new fulfillment centers in Texas in 2013. That means jobs and economic growth for the Lone Star State.
Things got a bit tense between Amazon.com LLC and the state of Texas in 2010, when the Texas Comptroller handed Amazon a bill for $269 million for back taxes owed. In response, Amazon threatened to close a distribution center outside of Dallas. Instead, the company reached an agreement with the Lone Star State, under which it began collecting sales tax in Texas on July 1, 2012.
The agreement also stipulated that Amazon would "create at least 2,500 jobs and make at least $200 million in capital investment in the state" over the next four years.
Let the Building Begin
The three new fulfillment centers will be located near some of the most heavily populated areas of Texas:
- One in Coppell, northwest of Dallas;
- One in Haslet, north of Fort Worth; and
- One in Schertz, east of San Antonio.
All told, these distribution centers will employ more than 1,000 Texans, according to Mike Roth, Amazon's vice president of North American fulfillment.
Reaction in Texas is overwhelmingly positive:
- Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said, "We're pleased Amazon is investing in Texas by bringing three fulfillment centers and more than 1,000 jobs to our state."
- Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt said, "We are thrilled Amazon chose Coppell for a new fulfillment center."
- Haslet Mayor Bob Golden said, "This is the biggest economic development partnership announcement in the history of our city."
- Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter said, "We are thrilled to formally and officially welcome Amazon to Schertz."
Some of the new hires will undoubtedly be veterans, since Amazon recently "committed to hire more than a thousand veterans in the U.S. in the upcoming year … ."
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photo credit: Scottish Government via photopin cc
