BELOIT, WIS. (WIFR) – Construction of a 1 million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center is underway in Beloit. City leaders explain how the facility could impact Beloit’s economy.
“I am an Amazon customer. I will fully admit our family uses their services regularly, so having that affiliation with such a well-known brand is really exciting for us,” said Lori Curtis Luther, Beloit City Manager.
Amazon is set to open the distribution center in Beloit’s Gateway Business Park.
“It’s been a successful business park, but this is really going to be the largest project in that area,” Luther said.
Over the past twenty years, Beloit invested heavily in that area, buying the land and putting in the infrastructure with hopes of bringing major companies to the city.
“I think our investment has paid off with all the other companies that have moved in and of course with this major project as well,” said Andrew Janke, GBEDC.
Once the site is completed it will bring more than 500 jobs to Beloit.
“That’s really something. They will become the largest employer in the city of Beloit,” Luther said.
Janke says these new jobs will also allow people to get an education while working.
“The company has a rather robust training reimbursement program. They reimburse up to 95% of tuition cost so folks have the opportunity to come, get a job, learn a whole new skill set, get a degree and potentially grow their careers elsewhere,” Janke said.
“I hope that this will really help us in the overall economic development picture and increase our population,” Luther said.
The Amazon fulfillment center is expected to open in time for the 2020 holiday season.
