Chairman Doug Duncan, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, and the Development Authority of Columbia County are pleased to announce that Amazon is moving forward with plans to open a second facility in Columbia County, Georgia.  The new 278,000 square-foot sortation center will employ hundreds of full-time and part-time employees once operational, providing a starting wage of $15 per hour and offering a variety of benefits from day one.

“Columbia County greatly appreciates Amazon’s continued investment in our community,” said Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan. “Job creation is our number one economic development priority.  Amazon’s new facility will provide hundreds of new jobs providing opportunities to our residents and the region.  I commend the County staff and the Development Authority of Columbia County for making this project possible.”

Sortation centers sort Amazon packages before being transferred to a delivery station or last-mile delivery partner for final delivery to customers. The facility has already begun construction in White Oak Business Park at I-20. It is expected to open later this year. Amazon is the first project announced in Phase 2 of the business park. 

“Amazon is excited to continue to invest in the state of Georgia with a sortation center that will help with critical package sortation needs, enabling the efficient shipping and delivery our customers love and providing hundreds of jobs for the Columbia County workforce,” said Sudheer Bayanker, director of operations for the new Amazon sortation center. “This new sortation center represents Amazon’s unwavering commitment to safety, technological innovations and skilled teams who are obsessed with delivering for our customers.”

Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $3.2 billion in Georgia, including its local operations infrastructure and compensation to thousands of employees in the state. Amazon’s investments in Georgia contributed an additional $3.2 billion into the economy, and using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the company estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 9,400 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s 21,000 direct hires.

“Georgia is ideally suited to handle the exponentially increasing growth in e-commerce, and we appreciate Amazon’s continued investments in our state that create job opportunities for Georgians,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Their decision to reinvest in Columbia County’s White Oak Business Park is a testament to the support they have experienced from the community, the workforce in the region, and the relationships that the state and our local partners have fostered with our job-stimulating private-sector partners.” 

“Amazon’s continued growth is a testament to the local leadership, county support, and the partnership between Columbia County and the Development Authority of Columbia County,” said Kerry Bridges, Chairmen of the Development Authority of Columbia County. “This project will provide needed jobs to the region and offer those looking for a part-time option a quality opportunity.  We are proud to continue to work with Amazon as they grow in Columbia County.”