Amazon to open FC in Target's backyard

JUNE 19, 2015 | BY GINA ACOSTA

Ever-growing Amazon.com Inc. is expanding its e-commerce capabilities in Target's home turf.

The e-commerce behemoth has announced it will open an 850,000 square foot fulfillment center in the Minneapolis area, its first DC in the state of Minnesota.

“We’re excited to become a member of the Shakopee community and create more than 1,000 full-time jobs that offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits on Day One that include health insurance, 401(k), bonuses and stock awards,” said Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North America operations. “We look forward to serving as a catalyst for new growth in the area by working with local businesses and collaborating with local and state elected officials who have been so supportive of Amazon entering the region.” 

At the facility, Amazon employees will pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and consumer goods. Associates will work alongside innovative technologies, including Amazon Robotics, which will be used on a daily basis to fulfill customer orders, the company said. 

“We were thrilled to work with Amazon in partnership with city, county and state officials on the company’s new investment in our region that will bring more than one thousand jobs and hundreds of millions in capital investment,” said Michael Langley, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership (GREATER MSP). “Amazon’s decision to locate their new state of the art fulfillment center here provides a strategic national location offering huge market access, strong transportation infrastructure and superior workforce quantity and quality.”