ORLANDO, Fla. – Amazon.com, Inc. announced plans Monday to open a new fulfillment center in the Orlando area, bringing 1,500 full-time jobs to the region.
The online retail giant said the Lake Nona center is expected to open in 2018.
"We are excited to join the Orlando community, creating more than 1,500 full-time jobs at our new fulfillment center," said Akash Chauhan, Amazon's vice president of North America operations. "We very much appreciate the state and local elected leaders who have supported Amazon's arrival in Orlando, and we look forward to bringing more jobs and investment to the state in the coming months."
Amazon employees at the more than 850,000-square-foot fulfillment center will pick, pack and ship small items, including books and electronics, to customers.
"I am proud that Amazon has chosen the Orlando area as the best location for their new fulfillment center. Amazon is already a major job creator in Florida, and we're proud that they are continuing to invest in our state and create new opportunities for our families," Gov. Rick Scott said. "(Monday's) announcement is a reminder of the important role of Enterprise Florida and local economic development agencies who have worked to market our state so we can outcompete other locations for these major jobs wins."
Amazon said it has created more than 4,000 full-time jobs in Florida since building its first fulfillment center in the state in 2013.
The new fulfillment center will bring Amazon's workforce in the Sunshine State to more than 9,000.
"We're thrilled to welcome Amazon to Central Florida, and look forward to this legendary innovator becoming a part of our community," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said. "We've worked hard to expedite permitting and other County functions in order to get this new type of fulfillment distribution center, including Amazon Robotics and a significant investment in technology, up and running. This is a huge win for Central Florida and a wonderful opportunity for our entire community, including the 1,500 employees who will join the Amazon team and all those who will benefit from Amazon's well-known commitment to the local community."