One isn’t enough for Amazon in Utah. Plans are in motion to open up a second facility in West Jordan. What’s even crazier is that it is set to be even bigger than their first facility which is located up by our Magna development in Salt Lake Cities’ NW quadrant.
This news fits right in tandem with last weeks article, The Future of Utah—and What It’s Going to Look Like in 2025
Amazon’s First Utah Facility
“Amazon will hire some 1,500 people to staff the new distribution center in Salt lake City’s northwest quadrant, and about 1,100 applicants have received job offers, according to Michael Taylor, the general manager of Salt Lake’s fulfillment center. City and state officials have been courting Amazon since 2017, offering the company an eight-year, $5.7 million tax incentive.”
The New Fulfillment Center
According to a recent statement, “We’re excited to open a new, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in West Jordan and to continue innovating in a state committed to providing great opportunities for jobs and customer experience,” Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s VP of Global Customer Fulfillment
You may not know this, but roughly 2,000 Amazon “associates” currently work in Utah, with most being tasked alongside robot machines throughout Salt Lake’s 855,000 sq foot facility. While it’s unrealistic to have any facility carry all of Amazon’s products (typically provided through 3rd parties), Amazon does store 15MM of their most popular products here in Salt Lake City.
With their new facility, they plan on bringing in a minimum of 800 new employees to West Jordan. The size will surpass the SL facility and take up over 1MM sq feet of real estate in an effort to specialize in Amazon’s larger items (sports equipment, furniture, bicycles, etc.) Most new employees will be hired to find, pack, and ship these items.
Reactions
“West Jordan is thrilled to welcome a new Amazon fulfillment center,” West Jordan Mayor, Jim Riding said in a statement. “Amazon’s decision to invest here reflects confidence in the city’s business environment and excellent workforce.
“As the ‘Crossroads of the West,’ Utah is the perfect place for companies in the distribution, fulfillment and logistics industries to enjoy great success. This is another example of the strength of Utah’s economy and the high quality of life we enjoy.” Gov. Gary Herbert