WILMINGTON — One of the world’s largest companies is breaking ground on a new facility in Wilmington in February — a long-planned project for the Cape Fear.
READ MORE: Amazon distribution center headed to Pender County, will create hundreds of jobs
Port City Daily has obtained emails from an Amazon representative sent to county staff and commissioners informing them the company will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wilmington facility on Feb. 20, 2025. Commissioner Rob Zapple accepted the invitation.
“I’m just delighted that they would have that kind of confidence [in our area], it’s going to be a major project for our area here,” Zapple said. “I’m very supportive.”
Zapple said he was not given further details on the facility’s launch nor construction timeline. Both commissioners LeAnn Piece and Dane Scalise concurred.
Wilmington Business Development announced Amazon purchased 54 acres in the Pender Commerce Park for a distribution center in March 2022. Located along U.S. Highway 421, just north of the New Hanover County Landfill, the 142,000-square-foot facility is part of the Wilmington metro area and will also act as a delivery station.
At the time of its announcement, Amazon noted it would bring over 100 full-time associate jobs, with a $15-an-hour starting wage and comprehensive benefits, along with hundreds of driver opportunities.
WBD said the facility would come online in 2023, but by August 2023 the project still hadn’t begun construction; at the time, the Wilmington Business Journal reported the firm still intended to build a delivery station. Still, no timeline was provided.
Port City Daily asked Amazon questions about its construction delays and future timeline; it refused to answer and instead sent a statement:
“Since 2010, Amazon has invested $9.2 billion in North Carolina, creating over 24,000 jobs,” a company representative provided in a statement. “Our land purchase in Pender County allows us to meet future needs and reinforces our commitment to the region. We look forward to working with the county on this project and will provide updates when available.”
Zapple said he was proud of Amazon’s investment in the community, along with the other recent economic developments coming only — including the establishment of a free trade zone at the Wilmington International Airport and Avelo Airline’s launch of three new non-stop destinations this week.
Along with the future Amazon facility, Pender Commerce Park is home to Coastal Beverage, Empire Distributors, FedEx Freight, Polyhose, RL Cold and Acme Smoked Fish, the latter which became the park’s first business in 2015.
Port City Daily also sent inquiries to Wilmington Business Development and Pender County’s Planning Director Daniel Adams about the progress of the Amazon facility; no responses were received by press.
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