Governor Rendell Says New Amazon Facility to Create More Than 1,000 Jobs in Luzerne County
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that a state investment of $1.75 million helped the world's leading online retailer, Amazon.com Inc., open a distribution center in Hazleton that will create more than 1,100 jobs within three years.
"Not only will this project result in more than a thousand new jobs for hard-working Pennsylvanians, but those jobs - along with the large amount of private investment - will provide ancillary benefits for the entire region," Governor Rendell said. "This is the type of project that could have happened literally anywhere in the U.S., and Amazon's renewed commitment to Pennsylvania attests to our strong pro-business climate." The Hazleton facility, which will be operated by Amazon.com DEDC LLC, will occupy more than 600,000 square feet in the Humboldt Industrial Park and represent a total project investment of more than $20 million. The project will also create more than 800 seasonal jobs.
"The Hazleton facility will play an important role in allowing us to serve our customers in the Northeast U.S. more quickly and efficiently and we're excited to be opening our fifth facility in Pennsylvania," said Mike McKenna, Amazon's vice president of North American fulfillment. The company's project was coordinated through the Governor's Action Team, economic development professionals who serve as a single point-of-contact for businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth offered Amazon.com a funding package that included a $1.25 million opportunity grant and $500,000 in job training programs. The Governor's Action Team worked with Amazon on a prior project. In 2005, the state invested $400,000 to help the company open two warehouses in Carlisle, Cumberland County, and Lewisberry, York County. That project created more than 100 full time jobs and more than 200 seasonal positions. Previous state investments to Humbolt Industrial Park have helped transform the location from a brownfield to a shovel-ready site able to attract world-class companies like Amazon. The Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization (CAN DO) received more than $4.25 million from DCED's Business in Our Sites program and more than $3 million in loans from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, or PIDA. These funds were used for site preparation and infrastructure development at the industrial park. For information on the Governor's Action Team and DCED programs, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972. More information on Governor Rendell's 2008-09 budget proposal and his Protecting Our Progress initiatives is available at www.pa.gov. The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us. CONTACT: Luke Webber (DCED)
CONTACT: Teresa Candori of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, Web Site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
2008-05-19 17:32:13 0365729 PRNEWSWIRE
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