Amazon is building a delivery station in Mills River, NC

Amazon_Distribution_Center-Mills_River_avltoday

Amazon lockers at Whole Foods in Asheville | Photo by @avltoday

Table of Contents

Last week, Amazon announced that the company is building a new, 112,000-square-foot distribution center on a 27-acre site on Fanning Fields Rd. in Mills River, and it’s scheduled to open by the end of the year. It will be Amazon’s ninth facility in NC.

Here’s what we know about the plans

There are six types of Amazon warehouses. This location will be a delivery station – where customer orders are prepared for final ground delivery. According to Amazon’s website, delivery centers enable fulfillment of efficient one- to two-day shipping, which the company calls “last-mile delivery.” FYI, the other warehouses are sortable fulfillment centers (where items are picked, packed, and shipped), non-sortable fulfillment centers (for bulky or larger-sized items), sortation centers (where items are sorted by final delivery location), receive centers (which stock inventory expected to sell quickly), and specialty centers (which stock seasonal and other items not always in rotation). Check out this behind-the-scenes look from an Amazon delivery station in Nebraska.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo7S7rr_IgU

About 200 people will be hired for positions at the station, and pay will start at $15/hour. No positions have been posted yet.

The site is 27 acres total, and Amazon has invested $28 million to develop it.

Business at Amazon has been booming since the pandemic began, and the company has hired over 175,000 new employees since the beginning of March. Prime membership revenue grew to $5.6 billion total (and increased by 28% compared to last year).

Amazon plans to spend $4 billion on overtime wages + personal protective equipment (PPE) for its employees.

Want to weigh in on Amazon’s decision to come to WNC? Add your feedback to the discussion happening over on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Poll

More from AVLtoday
Maximize your commute with these reader and editor picks of Asheville NC podcasts for business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
In partnership with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, the 342-acre property will be protected permanently.
From the American Goldfinch to the Carolina Wren — these avians can be found all around the area.
Explore eight local flower farms to ring in spring with stunning bouquets.
You submitted your questions about Asheville development projects. Now, let’s nail down the answers.
Learn all about the simple device helping homeowners save water, nourish their gardens, and keep runoff out of the French Broad River watershed.
Pack your reusable shopping bags, because we’ve rounded up thirteen farmers’ markets around Asheville.
Don’t just throw it all away — give your old clothing, furniture, and miscellaneous items a second life at one of these donation sites.
For 24 years running, Asheville is the canvas for this celebration of experimental art.