New Amazon oak creek fulfillment center to employ 1,500

By Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Partnership

Amazon is building a state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Oak Creek that will employ 1,500 people, 50 percent more jobs than originally expected.

The $200 million development includes a fourstory, 2.6 million-square-foot fulfillment facility on 75 acres adjacent to the I-94/Highway 100 (Ryan Road) interchange. Amazon currently employs more than 4,000 workers across its Wisconsin operations and has invested more than $1 billion in the state, including infrastructure and compensation to its employees from 2011 to 2017. Amazon's Kenosha distribution center is 1.5 million square feet and employs about 1,100 people.

"We are happy to have Amazon join the Oak Creek community and create more than 1,500 full-time jobs, making it the city's largest employer," said Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz. "I am especially proud of the excellent higher education incentives Amazon will offer area employees through their Career Choice program. Whether you want to be a nurse, engineer, school teacher, or something else, Career Choice offers a pathway forward to meet those professional ambitions."

The facility, expected to open in the first quarter of 2020, will feature innovative technology that includes Amazon Robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as household items, electronics and toys. The facility will also offer positions in operations management, human resources, IT, facilities management, finance and more.

"Anytime we have the opportunity to help in creating hundreds of quality jobs in Milwaukee County, especially for the people who need them the most, we will work hard to find solutions and partner with employers to make it happen," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. "That's why we were so excited to do exactly that with a great company like Amazon, and why we will do whatever we can to help ensure that those jobs are filled by the people who need them in Milwaukee County."

"We're delighted that one of the world's most successful businesses has cast another vote of confidence in Wisconsin," said Gale Klappa, co-chair of Milwaukee 7 and chairman and CEO of WEC Energy Group. "This significant investment by Amazon speaks to the competitiveness of our region for global companies and to the strong upward trajectory of our economy."

MMAC is a founding partner of the Milwaukee 7 regional economic development initiative. Its mission is to grow, expand and attract world-class businesses and talent in the Milwaukee Region. To learn how M7 can assist your business with expansion plans, talent sourcing, exporting, financing options and other business assistance, visit mke7.com.