An Amazon distribution center is in the works in Ashland.
Construction is underway for the multinational technology company to have a warehouse in the Cartwright Business & Technology Park near the Columbia Regional Airport, though the e-commerce giant has not officially announced its plans.
Ashland building inspector Dan Vande Voorde at a December planning and zoning commission meeting said that “the future project of the Amazon distribution center at Cartwright” had obtained its building permit and would be “starting on that project soon,” according to minutes from the meeting.
Developer Larry Potterfield, at an open house for the new Ashland Municipal Center in late January, confirmed to the Boone County Journal that he had sold a building at the industrial park to a third party, which intended to lease to Amazon.
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How many jobs could the Amazon center create?
Ashland Mayor Richard Sullivan estimates there could be upward of 300 delivery drivers employed based on the facility’s site plan.
“It is clear they are reconstructing at the location the building and grounds to house 300 trucks,” Sullivan told the Tribune this week. “So if you have 300 delivery spots, that is at least 300 drivers, I believe, probably.”
An opening date for the facility is not yet known.
The City of Ashland is excited to have such a facility in southern Boone County and within the city’s annexed limits, Sullivan said.
“This is not only great for Ashland, but great for Central Missouri and our entire region,” Sullivan said.
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What Amazon is saying
In keeping with its regular practice, Amazon has not confirmed nor denied the opening of the new facility even as indications point that direction.
“Amazon constantly explores new locations and weighs a variety of factors when deciding where to develop future sites to best serve customers,” Andy DiOrio, Amazon regional public relations manager, wrote in an email to the Tribune.
“While per policy we don’t comment on our future roadmap, we are exploring options locally and our commitment with developers is to be a good neighbor, assess how we can invest, create jobs and integrate well into the community.”
