Amazon has opened a new warehouse in Plainfield at 137 Lathrop Road — formerly a greyhound racing track — which it says will create more than 600 jobs and serve customers across three states.
The 202,000-square-foot “delivery station” began operations Oct. 16, the company said.
The facility will serve eastern Connecticut and portions of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, handling the final stage of package delivery before items reach customers’ homes.
The facility employs 275 full-time workers and supports an additional 350 positions through delivery service partners, independent contractors who operate Amazon-branded vehicles, according to an announcement.
The opening represents Amazon’s latest infrastructure investment in Connecticut, where the company says it has spent more than $11.5 billion since 2010. It is Amazon’s 17th distribution location in the state.
The building has been completed for around two years, but the opening was delayed due to what the company described as industrywide supply chain and inflationary challenges.
Plainfield First Selectman Kevin M. Cunningham previously told the Hartford Business Journal that he expected the building’s tax value to the town to increase to over $1 million a year once the facility opened.
Amazon said it will pay workers an average starting wage of $21 per hour. The company said healthcare benefits begin on the first day of employment, with premiums starting at $5 per week.
The Plainfield station includes charging infrastructure for Amazon’s electric delivery vehicles manufactured by Rivian.
Amazon has equipped more than 180 U.S. delivery stations with charging capabilities as part of its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The opening follows Amazon’s recent expansion of fulfillment centers in Charlton and North Andover, Massachusetts, and Johnston, Rhode Island, along with delivery stations in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Caribou, Maine.