Amazon to Open Its First Fulfillment Center in Illinois, Creating 1,000 Jobs

JOLIET, ILL. — Amazon.com Inc. has unveiled plans to open a nearly 500,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Joliet, Ill., located about 45 miles southwest of Chicago. Baltimore, Md.-based GLP Development Co. is the project developer. The fulfillment center, which is expected to create 1,000 full-time jobs when it opens, will be the company’s first in the state. Amazon employees at the fulfillment center will process smaller items such as books, electronics and consumer goods. “We are thrilled that Amazon has chosen Joliet as the location for its new Illinois fulfillment center,” says Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. “The company is not only the leader in the e-commerce sector, but it also will create quality jobs for a diverse community throughout Joliet and Will County.” According to the Chicago Tribune, Amazon is already advertising for $13-an-hour and $14.95-an-hour jobs at the facility. The newspaper adds that Amazon has invested heavily in warehouses nationwide during the last three years as it faces increasing competition on speed from Walmart.com, eBay, Google and other online retailers.