On Friday, May 7 Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Amazon will expand its significant presence in Georgia with a new fulfillment center planned in Savannah, Georgia. The new facility will feature innovative Amazon robotics technology and create 1,000 full-time jobs.
“I appreciate Amazon’s continued commitment to creating well-paying e-commerce jobs for hardworking Georgians and look forward to the positive impact it will bring to the coastal region,” said Governor Kemp. “Georgia’s connectivity, combined with smart planning and investment, has helped our state secure its spot as the No. 1 state for logistics and infrastructure and enhances our ability to attract major investments from world-renowned companies like Amazon.”
Employees at the approximately 640,000-square-foot Savannah facility, located on Pine Meadow Drive, will work alongside Amazon’s innovative robotics technology to pick, pack, and ship smaller customer orders, such as books, toys, and small household goods. Individuals interested in career opportunities with Amazon are encouraged to visit www.Amazon.jobs for additional information. The new fulfillment center is expected to open in 2022.
“Amazon is proud to serve customers across Georgia and throughout the southeast region of the U.S.,” said Melissa Nick, Vice President of Customer Fulfillment at Amazon. “Amazon has found an outstanding workforce, strong local support, and incredible customers in the state, and we look forward to creating these new, full-time jobs starting at $15 an hour with benefits on day one.”
Amazon currently employs more than 21,000 employees in Georgia, with continued hiring underway, and has existing operations facilities across the state, including Georgia’s first Amazon robotics fulfillment center in Stone Mountain, which opened in 2020. Amazon’s investments in Georgia have contributed $3.2 billion into the economy from 2010 to 2019, and using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the company estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 9,400 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s hires.
“Today is an exciting day to welcome the massive expansion of Amazon in Savannah,” said John Coleman, Savannah Economic Development Authority Chairman of the Board of Directors. “With a strong regional workforce talent pipeline and some of the best infrastructure in the country, the Savannah Economic Development Authority stands ready to assist Amazon as they grow and thrive in Savannah.”
“This announcement is a testimony to the partnership and collaboration that continues to make Georgia the best state in the nation to do business,” said Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority Griff Lynch. “The Georgia Ports Authority is proud to play a role creating jobs for Chatham County and communities throughout Georgia. We endeavor to work with our fellow state and local economic development agencies, as well as thriving partners such as Amazon, toward sustaining communities and fortifying families by relentlessly striving to accelerate global commerce.”
Chief Operating Officer Brittany Young represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce division on this competitive project in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation, Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Georgia Ports Authority, and Georgia Power. The proceeds from the purchase at the Chatham County Development Site will allow the state to invest in future mega-sites.
“For over a decade, Amazon has been a valued partner to Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “While it’s no secret that the state’s prime location in the Southeast puts Georgia at a competitive advantage for attracting e-commerce and logistics-focused companies, it is the seamless relationships with our sister agencies such as the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Ports Authority, and our local communities and utility partners, that allow us to deliver on our mission of creating a wide variety of jobs and opportunities for Georgians. Many thanks to Amazon for continuing to invest in Georgia.”