By Jeff Abell
As eager residents wait for the opening of a planned Amazon facility in Burlington, company officials say the project remains on track.
In March, Amazon announced it was locating a last-mile facility in Burlington. Last-mile facilities are the final stops in Amazon’s transportation network before packages are delivered to customers’ doorsteps.
A company spokesperson said planned renovations to the 715 West Burlington Ave. facility in the Flint Ridge Business Park are on schedule but the timetable for completion has not been finalized. The 38,600-foot building previously housed Dura Plastics.
The company plans to post job listings soon. Hourly employees in customer fulfillment and transportation earn between $17 and $28 per hour. At the facility, employees will sort packages according to delivery routes and finish the shipping cycle by delivering goods like books, household items, and toys. The location will feature advanced automation technologies, and the wages will surpass the regional average.
Jeremy Hess, Director of Economic Development for the Greater Burlington Partnership, said the new facility will significantly slash Amazon delivery times for residents.
Jason Vangalis, manager of economic development for Amazon. echoed that sentiment.
“This last-mile facility will allow us to better serve customers in southeast Iowa,” Vangalis said.
Burlington Mayor Jon Billups called the facility a win for the region.
“We are very thankful Amazon has chosen to invest in our city and region through capital investment and job creation," he said.