[May 9, 2012] – The Winchester/Clark County Industrial Development Authority, Commerce Lexington Inc., the state’s Cabinet for Economic Development and the Bluegrass Alliance announced today that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDQ: AMZN) plans to open a new 70,000-square-foot customer service facility in Winchester, Ky., investing more than $20.7 million and creating 550 full-time and hundreds of seasonal jobs in Central Kentucky by 2017.
“Amazon’s decision to grow its Kentucky footprint is fantastic news, especially when you consider the impact of more than 1,100 full- and part-time jobs it will bring to the central Kentucky region,” Gov. Beshear said. “Kentucky is proud to have Amazon choose Winchester for this growth opportunity and wish them continued success and prosperity.”
“We have thousands of employees working in Amazon’s fulfillment centers across Kentucky, and we’re proud to be expanding our presence in the state with the opening of a customer service center,” said Tom Weiland, vice-president, Amazon Customer Service. “We hope to have our team in Winchester up-and-running before the holiday season, and we’re looking for great people to join us in giving Amazon customers a first-class shopping experience.”
Amazon will host Information Sessions regarding employment opportunities for their new Customer Service facility on Wednesday, May 16th, and Thursday, May 17th, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day at the Clark County Extension Office located at 1400 Fortune Drive in Winchester. During these sessions, prospective employees will receive an overview of the company, customer service operation and information on how to apply for employment. For a full list of available opportunities visit www.amazon.com/csjobs.
“Our regional partnerships and our efforts to promote Central Kentucky have once again paid off with the announcement that Amazon will create of hundreds of jobs for Winchester/Clark County and our area,” said Todd Denham, Executive Director of the Winchester/Clark County Industrial Development Authority. “By working together with Commerce Lexington Inc., and our Bluegrass Alliance partners we have been able to bring home another world class operator in Amazon.”
The Bluegrass Alliance is a partnership of economic development professionals in Central Kentucky, working together to promote job creation and investment for the benefit of the region. The Alliance consists of: Fayette, Clark, Madison, Scott, Jessamine, Woodford, Bourbon and Franklin Counties. The Bluegrass Alliance team jointly markets the region and the great attributes of doing business in Central Kentucky.
“The partners of the Bluegrass Alliance have participated in many joint marketing trips to large cities to meet with key site selection consultants,” said Gina Greathouse, Senior Vice President, Economic Development at Commerce Lexington Inc. and Chair of Bluegrass Alliance. “The site selection firm that recommended our region to Amazon.com was Site Selection Group in Dallas. Our team, including Winchester and Lexington, has met with Site Selection Group many times in past during our marketing trips. This announcement is a great testament to the value of relationship building and working with economic development consultants, as well as building strong regional partnerships.”
“Being selected for a project of this magnitude will certainly impact our community, now and in the years to come,” said Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner. “The investment and careers that Amazon will create will ripple through our economy, putting people to work and generating income for our region. This is what economic development is all about.”
The new customer service center is expected to open in late summer and will be based at Winchester Plaza during construction of the permanent facility in the Winchester Industrial Park. The permanent facility is expected to open in 2013. The center will be operated by AMZN.wacs, Inc.
The Winchester facility will be Amazon’s first customer service center in Kentucky. The multi-million dollar investment in Winchester will allow Amazon to support customer calls and emails and provide technical support to various business lines.
