Louisiana, Amazon confirms Carencro fulfillment center

As we reported last week, an Amazon fulfillment center is planned in Carencro.

Today, the government and the company confirmed the plans. Here’s our story from last week.

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Amazon announced that the company will open its first Louisiana fulfillment center in Carencro. The company will make a capital investment of $ 100 million and create 500 direct jobs with an annual salary of over $ 16 million. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that the project will result in 982 new indirect jobs, for a total of over 1,400 jobs in Acadiana and surrounding areas.

Located on the former Evangeline Downs site in Carencro, the fulfillment center will be close to the intersection of Highways 10 and 49 and provide optimal access to Louisiana markets. In the new 1 million-square-foot center, Amazon partners will choose, package and deliver bulky or larger items such as patio furniture, outdoor equipment and carpets.

“Don’t become the world’s largest retailer without making a number of well-motivated strategic investments, and Amazon’s selection of Carencro for its new fulfillment center is proof of that,” said Governor Edwards. “This 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center will not only prove to be an extraordinary asset for all of Louisiana, but the project will also create 500 full-time jobs on site and stimulate growth in other places.” work in Acadiana. I am proud to welcome this new fulfillment center in Louisiana and look forward to Amazon’s continued investment in our great state. “

The new fulfillment center is Amazon’s latest Louisiana investment, which has already invested more than $ 250 million in the state since 2010. In addition to seven Whole Food Market locations in Louisiana, Amazon operates delivery stations in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The company also operates an Amazon Air logistics gate at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Across Louisiana, Amazon currently has over 1,500 full-time and part-time workers.

“We are excited to open our first fulfillment center in the greater state of Louisiana,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer satisfaction. “We are grateful for the strong support we have received from local and state leaders as we expand our footprint in Louisiana. Every day at Amazon, incredible employees come together to provide customers with magical experiences and look forward to creating over 500 new full-time jobs for the local community, with industry-leading salaries and comprehensive benefits from day one. “

In 2020, Amazon ranked 5th in Louisiana among all states for the fastest annual growth among its digital entrepreneur partners. More than 14,500 small and medium-sized businesses in the state participate in Amazon’s fulfillment network. From June 2019 to May 2020, those Louisiana entrepreneurs saw a 49% year-over-year increase in sales. “Carencro is extremely honored and just as blessed to be chosen for the first Amazon production center in Louisiana,” said Mayor Glenn Brasseaux. “The economic impact of this facility cannot be overstated in terms of capital investment, job creation with respectable wages and benefits, and increased interest in residential development.”

In July 2020, LED and its economic development partners began official talks with Amazon about a potential fulfillment center. To secure the project in Carencro, Louisiana has offered Amazon a package of competitive incentives that includes complete FastStart LED solutions® – national labor program no. 1 of the country in the last 11 years. In addition, Amazon will be eligible for a $ 3 million performance-based grant payable over two years to offset the facility’s infrastructure costs.

“Today’s announcement is a great achievement for Carencro, Lafayette Parish and our people in Acadiana,” said Lafayette Economic Development Authority President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux. “Amazon’s decision to locate Louisiana’s first fulfillment center here confirms that our community is attractive to companies in the industry because of our work ethic, creativity and pro-business attitude. As our economy continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic and the energy recession, this project highlights the importance of our diversification efforts to help stabilize the region’s economy. “

Amazon anticipates the completion of the Carencro fulfillment center by the end of 2021. The hiring of new employees is expected to begin one to three months before the launch of operations.

“I am very grateful to Mayor Brasseaux, LEDA, Amazon and everyone else who has been involved in making this extraordinary project possible,” said Mayor-President Josh Guillory de Lafayette. “Whenever we can bring business and jobs to Lafayette Parish, everyone wins. We have all worked hard and will continue to offer every resource to attract more companies like this to Lafayette. “

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