Amazon plans 400,000-sq.-ft. distribution hub in Cromwell

Online retail giant Amazon, whose services have been relied on by more Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, has plans to open another major fulfillment center in Connecticut, this time in Cromwell.
 
Amazon.com Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to open a new, state-of-the-art 400,000-square-foot fulfillment center at 120 County Line Drive, creating hundreds of full-time jobs. 

The planned facility comes after Hartford Business Journal recently reported Amazon’s plans to open a $230-million distribution hub in Windsor, which will be the company’s second facility in that town. The company also recently announced plans to occupy a vacant Danbury warehouse where it plans to hire up to 400 employees.

Amazon currently operates two fulfillment centers in the state in Windsor and North Haven, a sortation center in Wallingford and a delivery station in Bristol. 

“I look forward to having Amazon as a member of the Town of Cromwell’s business community …,” said said Cromwell Mayor Enzo Faienza.

Amazon’s Crowmwell expansion plan is another win for Indiana developer Scannell Properties, which built the 120 County Line warehouse space on spec last year, and was having a slower-than-expected time filling the space. 

But it seems to have found a good partner in Amazon. Scannell is also building Amazon’s new planned warehouse space in Windsor. 

The Crowmwell location will include innovative technologies to pick, pack and ship larger customer items such as mattresses, kayaks, grills and exercise equipment. In addition, Amazon will hire for roles in human resources, operations management, safety, security, finance and information technology.

Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $1 billion in Connecticut through its customer fulfillment infrastructure and compensation for its employees, the company said. Amazon’s investments in Connecticut have contributed an additional $600 million into the state’s economy, and, using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 3,000-plus indirect jobs on top of the company’s 4,500 direct hires.