Online retailer Amazon has announced plans to open a fulfilment centre in Beaumont, California, which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.
The new centre marks the 14th centre for the company in the US state. It currently operates fulfilment centres in Eastvale, Moreno Valley, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside and San Bernardino.
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Amazon North America operations vice-president Mark Stewart said: “The Inland Empire has been a great place to do business: serve customers, create jobs, and raise the bar on innovative technologies.
“Since we started fulfilling customer orders six years ago in San Bernardino, we’ve been able to build up an amazing team of dedicated associates who now earn at least $15 an hour and receive industry-leading benefits on their first day of employment. We’re excited to now be part of the Beaumont community and grow our team there.”
Amazon will use the 640,000ft2 fulfilment centre to pick, pack and ship items including books, small electronics, school supplies and home goods to customers.
The company opened its first fulfilment centre in California in 2011 and has created more than 39,000 jobs since then. The retailer has also invested more than $19bn in infrastructure and compensation to its employees.
Beaumont Mayor Nancy Carroll said: “I am pleased to announce that Amazon has chosen Beaumont and will be opening a four-story, 640,000ft2 fulfilment centre in the Beaumont industrial business park at the merge of Interstate 10 and State Route 60 freeways.
“Each Amazon facility opens opportunities for jobs, much involving cutting-edge technology. This facility will provide direct employment opportunities in the San Gorgonio Pass region and additional indirect jobs and commerce for local small businesses servicing the needs of the new workforce and the facility.”
