NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today that Amazon will invest more than $230 million to establish a new Operations Center of Excellence distribution hub in downtown Nashville.
As part of Amazon’s investment, the company will create 5,000 high-paying jobs in Davidson County, representing the single largest jobs commitment made by a company in Tennessee’s history.
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“This is a game changer for Tennessee. The ripple effect of Amazon’s decision to invest $230 million in our state and create 5,000 high-paying jobs in downtown Nashville will be felt for years to come,” Haslam said. “Amazon has spent the past year searching the nation for the best possible locations to expand and it chose Tennessee because of our business-friendly policies, low taxes and skilled workforce. I thank Amazon for its continued investment in Tennessee.”
Amazon has five fulfillment and sortation centers in Tennessee located in Charleston, Chattanooga, Lebanon, Murfreesboro and Nashville, as well as one Prime Now Hub in Nashville.
Amazon will build its Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville Yards, a 15-acre, mixed-use development in downtown Nashville. The one million square foot office space will house the tech and management functions of Amazon’s Retail Operations division, including customer fulfillment, customer service, transportation, and supply chain, amongst others.
“This is fantastic news for the city. Nashville continues to prove itself as a desirable destination for businesses and, in turn, as an economic leader in our country,” Nashville Mayor David Briley said. “Amazon’s decision to put 5,000 high-paying jobs right in the heart of Nashville further underscores our city’s vibrancy and is a direct nod to our talented workforce and overall financial health. Today’s announcement is also a testament to the strong relationships we have with the State, TVA and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, who were all instrumental in this agreement.”
The project is the single largest jobs announcement in the state’s history and is projected to create more than 13,000 jobs for Tennessee’s workforce. In addition, for every one direct job created by the project, an additional 1.6 jobs will be created in the state.
From 2011 to 2017, Amazon has invested more than $5 billion in Tennessee, including customer fulfillment infrastructure and compensation to its employees.
Along with the City of Nashville, the State of Tennessee also worked with key partners, including the Tennessee Valley Authority and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, to recruit the project to the state.
“It’s a testament to the vitality of the region’s economy that an industry leader such as Amazon has chosen Nashville for its new Operations Center of Excellence,” said Ralph Schulz, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “Nashville’s unique vibe, in-migration trends and strong business growth helped set us apart as a top 20 city for Amazon’s HQ2. Ultimately, being selected as a finalist opened the opportunity for Nashville to be chosen for this significant operation – a historic win for our region.”