Amazon is expanding its operations in Mississippi. MPB's Kobee Vance reports on how this tech giant is impacting the state.
Amazon is opening a new fulfillment center in Olive Branch, making this the second Fulfillment Center in the state. A statement by the governor's office said this could create 500 full-time jobs in DeSoto County. The announcement comes only 5 months after the first fulfillment center began operations in June of 2019, which was planned to create more than 850 jobs.
Justin Hall is the executive director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority. He says there's been good feedback from employees and the community.
"Amazon's been very active in the community. Involved in various events. Everything from touring with the high school very early on, and educating about opportunities in the high schools and the various WIN Job Centers."
Hall says since the announcement of the Amazon facility last year, there's been a lot of outside growth in the area.
"To date since that announcement, we've had several existing industries expand, and several new industries announced that they're coming to Marshall County. Several in very close proximity to this facility. I think that we've announced over $320,000,000 of capital investment and about 2,000 new jobs since December of 2018, since the original Amazon announcement."
The 1 million square foot building will ship large items such as outdoor equipment, pet food, and other large household goods.
