FORT WAYNE (Network Indiana) — Last week it was announced that Amazon would be building another fulfillment center in Fort Wayne, bringing 1,000 new jobs to Indiana with it.
There are already two Amazon fulfillment centers by the Fort Wayne International Airport, but Mayor Tom Henry (D) told Inside Indiana Business that this new center will be better equipped for Amazon to meet its distribution needs in the Midwest.
But, he also said Fort Wayne was the right fit for Amazon’s workers to live.
“I know a number of new staff members will be drawn from the Fort Wayne population, but they are also going to be bringing in some new staff members as well,” he said. “A lot of what we had to offer as far as qualify of place, I think was really attractive to them.”
The new Amazon center will employ 1,000 workers, but Henry said it will also be Amazon’s first fulfillment center operated mostly by robots.
Henry added that the center is fulfilling a vision he has had for Fort Wayne for some time
“Some time ago we made the investment to build runways (at the airport) in order to accommodate 747’s whit a hope, a desire, to become a cargo hub someday,” said Henry.
Though the pandemic stymied the city’s economic development plans with Electric Works and other projects, Henry said the Amazon announcement is a good jumpstart to get development plans back on track.
