Amazon to bring 1,000 jobs, huge facility to KCK
July 11, 2016 | Bobby Burch
Online retail giant Amazon will open a massive new facility in Kansas City, Kan.
The Seattle-based company announced Monday that it will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs and construct an 855,000-square-foot fulfillment facility near the Turner Diagonal on I-70 in Kansas City, Kan.
“These aren’t just any jobs. They are the best entry-level jobs our community has seen in decades,” KCK Mayor Mark Holland wrote in an email announcing the news. “[The jobs] will pay significantly better than minimum wage, offer a strong benefits package and provide tuition reimbursement for people who aspire to better their lot in life.”
The new Amazon employees will pick, pack and ship smaller customer items, such as books, electronics and toys, Amazon said in a release. Amazon said that its full-time employees receive competitive hourly wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, 401(k) and company stock awards.
In addition to the new fulfillment center in Wyandotte County, Amazon will have a new facility in Edgerton, Kan., and has an existing facility in Lenexa. The new project in Kansas City, Kan. is being developed by Seefried Industrial Properties and USAA.
“We are thrilled to continue investing in Kansas, proud of our ability to create great jobs and, most importantly, excited to better serve our customers throughout the Midwest,” Akash Chauhan, Amazon’s vice president of North American operations, said in a release. “Together with the addition of the Kansas City and the Edgerton fulfillment centers, there will be 2,000 new Amazon jobs in Kansas and none of this would be have been possible without the support we’ve received from state and community leaders.”
The new fulfillment center means that residents in the Kansas City area with Amazon Prime could receive Amazon’s same-day shipping service in the next 12 – 24 months. Prime members in 27 metro areas around the nation already receive free, same-day delivery on qualifying orders over $35.
Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, Amazon employs more than 238,000 full- and part-time employees.
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Women flex their tech muscles at KC conference
Framed by a LEGO guitar and robotic vehicle, Rheanne Walton and Emma Howard anxiously review notes at their podium as dozens of technology experts await their pitch. The middle-school students are visiting the Kansas City Developers Conference to share the story of their all-girl robotics team, MindSTEM, and how it competes in the FIRST LEGO…
New lab hopes to boost digital inclusion in Kansas City
A new computer lab in Northeast Kansas City hopes to serve as a tech oasis in a digital desert among low-income households. Google donated and opened the new lab Monday in Chouteau Court, furthering the company’s mission to help bridge the area’s digital divide through education about computers and Internet use. Rachel Hack Merlo, Google…
Lantern scores big with Sporting Kansas City deal
Tech firm Lantern Software’s mobile app hit the right pitch with its hometown soccer team. The startup, located in Kansas City, Kan., recently partnered with Sporting Kansas City to offer its mobile concessions ordering platform. The deal, effective Saturday, will allow fans in Sporting KC’s Boulevard Members Club to order and pay for concessions on…
Scarcity of women, parents in startups offers research opportunity
It’s no secret that — like any business — an entrepreneurial ecosystem is disadvantaged without a diverse set of players. But hurdles such as late night meetings and male-dominated culture at startups create barriers to entry for two specific groups: women and parents. That’s why researchers at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation are taking another…