Amazon's first delivery station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is up and running in Escanaba, with Amazon reporting delivery times of two days instead of seven to eight.
The 50,000-square-foot facility launched operations on Oct. 8 and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 22, according to WBUP/WJMN. Amazon reported more than 50 employees at the station and expects staffing to double within weeks. The company said roughly 50 drivers make deliveries from the site and hiring is continuing before the holidays.
"For a region where distance is simply a fact of life, Amazon's investment in Escanaba helps bring the final link in the supply chain closer to the people of the Upper Peninsula," state Sen. Ed McBroom said at the ceremony.
The Escanaba station is part of Amazon's $4 billion investment in rural America aimed at creating more than 100,000 jobs and driving opportunities and bringing faster shipping to over 13,000 ZIP codes nationwide, according to the company’s announcement. Amazon now operates six delivery stations in rural Michigan communities: Escanaba, Traverse City, Gaylord, Saginaw, Clare and Bad Axe.
State Rep. Dave Prestin, who represents the 108th House District, said the new investment brings an opportunity to UP communities and signals that the peninsula is a place where businesses can grow. Kyle DeGiulio, senior manager of economic development at Amazon, said the station is about creating local jobs and showing the company's long-term commitment to rural America, UpNorthLive reported.
During the ceremony, Amazon presented a community donation to Tri-County Safe Harbor, a local organization serving families in the region. Ian Conyers, Amazon's head of community engagement, said the company is proud to partner with the organization and looks forward to deepening its roots in the Upper Peninsula.
Residents looking for job openings at the Escanaba station can visit Amazon’s local jobs page.
