NORTH PEKIN, Ill. — One of the nation’s largest online retailers – Amazon – is set to open a new fulfillment center in North Pekin on Feb. 9, creating more than 200 jobs.
The Amazon facility, located at 1961 Edgewater Drive, will distribute incoming and outgoing packages through what it calls “last mile delivery”.
“The most visible part of Amazon’s transportation network is our last mile operations, which facilitates package delivery directly to the customer’s doorstep,” said Caitlin Polochak, Regional Public Relations Manager, for Amazon.
“While Amazon currently delivers packages via a variety of modes, deliveries through Amazon’s dedicated last-mile delivery network account for over 50% of our shipments, both in the U.S. and globally,” Polochak said.
A smaller initial crew of about 30 employees will operate the facility at opening, with plans to ramp up to about 200 employees within the year.
Although the investment cost millions of dollars, North Pekin Mayor Stephen Flowers said the desire was strong to bring Amazon to the area.
“I think it’s a win-win for us and for them,” said Mayor Flowers. “We’ve done everything we can to accommodate them. We didn’t charge them for permits and things of that nature. We want them here.”
According to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Center, the branch will bring more than 200 jobs to the area in the next few months. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the new location on Feb. 9.
