By Leeann Doerflein | Daily Journal
FRANKLIN, Ind. — Amazon will open a 510,000 square foot sorting center at Franklin’s Interstate 65 exit this year.
The internet retail giant is opening its fifth facility in Johnson County at the Sunbeam Development Corporation shell building on the northeast side of the interchange. This building is the first built in a series of industrial structures the company plans to build on nearly 550 acres at the interchange.
Amazon says the new location will bring operations close to area customers and create “hundreds” of jobs in Franklin. An exact number of jobs has not been shared with the city at this time, said Mayor Steve Barnett.
“I am proud to welcome Amazon to our beautiful city. This is great news for Franklin and the entire state of Indiana, as Amazon continues to invest in the local market. We’re thrilled Amazon has chosen the Sunbeam Development location to expand their operation and we look forward to many partnerships in the future,” Barnett said in a news release from the city.
Several types of jobs related to Amazon’s customer fulfillment operations will be created at the facility, including receiving inventory, sorting and shipping customer orders, and supporting network logistics, according to the release.
The average starting wage will be $18 per hour for roles in fulfillment and transportation. The company will provide full-time employees comprehensive benefits from day one, up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave, and Amazon’s Career Choice program, in which the company will pay full college tuition for its front-line employees, the release says.
For more, see Friday’s Republic.
