Amazon says it will build a new air cargo hub at Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport to accommodate its growing fleet of Prime Air delivery jets, creating more than 2,000 jobs in the process.
Total investment in the hub is projected to amount to $1.49 billion, according to reports from Kentucky. The plan calls for extensive construction on a 920-acre site, and reportedly represents the largest single investment ever made by a company in Northern Kentucky.
“We couldn’t be more excited to add 2,000-plus Amazon employees to join the more than 10,000 who work with us today across our robust operations in Kentucky,” Dave Clark, Amazon senior vice president of worldwide operations, said in a statement.
Today’s announcement was timed to coincide with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority’s preliminary approval for $40 million in tax incentives for the project.
Last year, Amazon said it would build up a fleet of 40 leased Boeing 767 cargo airplanes to boost its shipping capability. The first branded Prime Air jet made its debut in Seattle last August, and as of today 16 of the jets are in operation. More are rolling out regularly.
Amazon signaled that it would be shifting operations from its current base at Wilmington Air Park in Ohio. In today’s announcement, Amazon said it “plans to offer job opportunities at any Amazon site across the U.S. to those involved in the package sortation that occurs today in Wilmington.”
The new jobs would count toward Amazon’s pledge to add 100,000 workers over the next 18 months.
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