USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n it y Ne w sp ap er is a publ ic at ion of Es c a mbi a-S a nt a R os a B a r A ss o c i at ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 22, No. 33
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
August 17, 2022
1 Section, 8 Pages
THE AMA ZON EFFEC T
AMA ZON DIS TRIBUTION FACILIT Y COMING TO SANTA ROSA COUNT Y INDUSTRIAL PARK
S
by Morgan Cole
anta Rosa County will soon welcome a new tenant to its industrial parks that is anticipated to bring hundreds of new jobs to the local economy. Site plans have been submitted to Santa Rosa County for a new Amazon distribution center in Santa Rosa County Industrial Park located in East Milton just off US 90.
As one of the world’s largest retailers, the new Amazon facility serves as a big score for the county’s economic development team. “We are excited to have Amazon choose one of the Santa Rosa County industrial parks to call home. Companies continue to choose Santa Rosa County because of the strong population growth in the area, our businessfriendly tax climate and strong labor force,” District 4 County Commissioner Dave Piech said. The project would integrate two existing facilities located within the Santa Rosa Industrial Park, which was operated by Navy Federal Credit Union for a call center. Piech stated that Amazon would be renovating the 81,000 square-foot space that formerly housed the call center. Shawn Ward, the county’s Planning and Zoning Director, said the county authorized site plans for the proposed distribution warehouse back in early June, and that the building plans
are currently under review. “With certif ied sites, modern infrastructure and a trained, educated and experienced workforce, Santa Rosa County offers industries a unique opportunity to maximize their return on investment in a community dedicated to providing the best to residents and businesses,” Piech said. Many of the projects in the county’s industrial parks receive nicknames before specif ics are disclosed. Santa Rosa Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree said he was previously not in a position to disclose the company behind the project, but said this proposal is Project “Jungle Cruise.” The county announced the project when plans were initially submitted in 2021; however there were no specific details released to the public regarding the name or type of Fortune 500 corporation behind the project. Amazon’s rapid expansion across Florida has made the company one of the larg-
A view of the proposed location for the new Amazon distribution facility coming to East Milton.
est employers in the state. before 2020. The facilities The company currently include “first-mile” fulfillemploys more than 59,000 ment centers, “middle-mile” people in Florida, with plans sorting centers and smaller to hire thousands more for “last-mile” delivery stations. positions at multiple new While the fulf illment distribution centers open- centers process and ship ing soon. orders directly to consumAmazon’s 30.2 million ers, the distribution centers square feet of distribution — such as the one planned and warehouse space in the for Santa Rosa County — Sunshine State equals more serve as a way station within than 161 Walmart Super- the wholesale portion of the centers. supply chain where manuAmazon had 29 logistics facturers deliver products to facilities, including loca- be distributed to retailers. tions only used for part of Each of the facilities the year, in Florida prior operated within the Amazon to the onset of the COVID- network are directly posi19 pandemic in early 2020. tioned to support customer Since then, the company has fulf illment and delivery opened 56 more, accord- operations. The compaing to a statewide survey ny’s vast network and straconducted by USA TODAY tegic fulfillment program Network-Florida. allows it to deliver goods The new facilities are to customers in the shortest estimated to have added possible time, making it one 16.1 million square feet of of the leading e-commerce distribution and warehouse giants in the world. space compared to the 14.1 The company currently million square feet the online operates a total of 85 faciliretailer occupied in this state ties throughout Florida, with
another two dozen projects either under construction or currently being planned. The nearest Florida facilities include a delivery facility in Marianna that launched in 2021, and other delivery and order fulfillment centers planned to open later this year in Tallahassee. Amazon’s pay currently averages around $18 per hour or more across the board, including in Florida. It also provides flexible work schedules and a complete benef its package with the opportunity to purchase stock within the company. “We know Amazon will have a talented pool of workers to choose from and will make a lasting investment in our great county with good paying jobs. We, as a county, are always moving forward with our mission statement in mind – serving our community, committed to excellence,” Piech said. •
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