Amazon to open Jeffersonville facility

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Amazon.com Inc. has announced plans to open a new fulfillment center in Jeffersonville, creating up to 1,050 new jobs by 2015 and approximately $150 million in investment in the state.

Jeffersonville officials have known about the new facility since September of 2011, but because of the secretive nature of the project, it was simply known as Project Tango to everyone involved.

What used to be an old ammo plant, and acres of farmland filled with cattle--is becoming a new kind of promised land. Amazon.com will take over 70 acres. It will be the largest single footprint in Southern Indiana--28 acres under one roof.

Now that the company has officially announced its intention to locate in Jeffersonville, we know that construction has been ongoing at the River Ridge Commerce Center, which is the site of the old Army Ammunition Plant, for the past six months.

Construction is moving quickly, and that is because Amazon has a very aggressive timeline. The River Ridge Development Authority was approached by Amazon in September. Less than 6 months later--construction began. "The building structure is supposed to be in place by July," said Jerry Acy, Executive Director of the River Ridge Development Authority. That is just the building--operations will begin in the Fall.

Amazon would not say how many employees will be hired by then, when the hiring process begins, or starting pay. But by 2015--it will have created 1,050 jobs. Amazon.com sells practically anything--from books and movies, to clothing and equipment. Amazon says many employees will sort and ship items.

The River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville is booming, it is in a prime spot near suppliers and quick access to interstates. But another thing that helped seal the deal? The Ohio River Bridges Project. "We feel like the fact that there has been an announced start date on the 265 extension and the east end bridge, and the commitment from both states and both governors -- that was a positive fact," said Acy.

"This is Amazon's fifth Indiana facility, and the company is employing thousands of Hoosiers," said Gov. Mitch Daniels. "We're grateful for every one of those jobs. These facilities will serve customers across the country, further cementing Indiana's position as the country's logistics capital."

Amazon currently operates facilities in Indianapolis, Whitestown and Plainfield.

"Indiana is home to thousands of Amazon employees, and we look forward to bringing additional jobs to the state this fall," said Dave Clark, vice president, Amazon global customer fulfillment. "We're grateful to state officials for their business-friendly approach, which supports our continued expansion in Indiana."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Amazon up to $2,000,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $300,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans.

Because those credits are performance-based, the company is not eligible to claim incentives until it adds more jobs. Also, the IEDC and the Indiana Department of Transportation will allocate funds to improve Cox Road. River Ridge Development Authority has approved additional property tax abatement through the enterprise zone and will support infrastructure improvements.

"We are very excited to have a corporate citizen like Amazon here at the River Ridge Commerce Center," said Mark Robinson, president of the River Ridge Development Authority. "Their presence here is further testament of River Ridge being the Midwest's premier development site."

Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore says the new facility represents a turnaround for the city.

"We are extremely excited to have Amazon join our business community," Moore said. "An addition like this shows Jeffersonville is at the forefront of a national rebound."