Amazon to bring 1,000 jobs, huge facility to KCK

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.