New Amazon fulfillment centers will ship items of all sizes

Amazon.com shoppers in the Midwest may be able to get a variety of goods a little quicker in the near future.



The e-tail giant plans to open two fulfillment centers in Edwardsville, Illinois, and create more than 1,000 full-time jobs between the facilities when they open. Amazon has an existing Illinois fulfillment center in Joliet where it currently employs 1,500 full-time employees, and also recently announced it will open a second Joliet facility that will create another 2,000 full-time jobs.



Both new fulfillment centers will span more than 700,000 sq. ft. each. Employees will pick, pack and ship items for customers. One of the buildings will specialize in handling larger items like big-screen TVs, sports equipment or kayaks and the other building will handle smaller items such as books, toys and electronics.



“Illinois has been a great place to do business for Amazon and we look forward to adding two additional fulfillment centers and creating another 1,000 full-time jobs with benefits on day one in the state,” said Akash Chauhan, Amazon’s VP of North American operations. “The elected officials throughout the city and state have been very supportive of Amazon and we thank them for helping make this possible. We’re excited to soon call Edwardsville home and become an active member of this vibrant community.”



Amazon reportedly operates nearly 100 fulfillment centers across the U.S. The company also recently announced it would open its sixth Texas fulfillment center in Dallas, as well as two new fulfillment centers in New Jersey, in Florence and Carteret, and also in the cities of Tracy and Eastvale, California, as well as the Joliet facility.



The company is now hiring for management positions at the Edwardsville fulfillment centers.