Amazon to build new delivery station in East Texas

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Amazon has selected Tyler for its newest delivery station. The Tyler Economic Development Council completed the sale of 30 acres to Amazon late Friday, according to TEDC President and CEO Scott Martinez. These facilities are the final stop for packages before being delivered to customers' doorsteps.

"We welcome Amazon to our community and are excited about the tremendous economic impact it will provide for our community," Martinez said. "It's going to be about a $50 million investment."

The new 140,000-square foot facility will be located in the North Tyler Commerce Park on CR 334, also known as Center Church Road. Construction on the new facility could begin later this week or next week and will take about 10 months.

"This delivery station will allow us to better serve customers in Tyler and across East Texas," said Jessica Breaux, senior manager of economic development for Amazon. "We're grateful for our partnership with the City of Tyler, Smith County, and the Tyler Economic Development Council and look forward to sharing more details about this facility and the good jobs we'll offer in the future."

The center will help power the last mile of Amazon's fulfillment process by enabling fast, everyday delivery directly to customers' doorstep. Packages are transported to delivery stations from Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers and then employees process customer packages for last-mile delivery.

The facility will add over 100 full-time jobs and several hundred part-time jobs over the next few years, according to Martinez. The company asked for no economic incentives or tax abatements and will also cover the cost of a new traffic signal at SH-155 and CR 334.

"On behalf of the City of Tyler, we are excited to have Amazon building a center here in our city. The benefits from this project are enormous as it will add to our tax base, employ many of our citizens, and provide faster service from when we make an Amazon purchase to the package showing up on our doorstep. This is a huge win for the city, county, and the Tyler Economic Development Council," said Tyler Mayor Don Warren.

The new Tyler facility will be one of the region's largest Amazon centers of this kind, according to Martinez.

"I think that's a testament to the economic health of our community," Martinez said.

"We are thrilled to have Amazon construct a new distribution center, bringing in new jobs to positively impact Smith County. The county's partnership with the Tyler Economic Development Council continues to help grow our community and make Smith County the greatest place to live and work," said Smith County Judge Neal Franklin.

The Tyler Economic Development Council thanks Smith County Engineer Frank Davis, Tyler City Planner Kyle Kingma, East Texas Municipal District General Manager Lane Thompson, Jim Hedrick of Potter Minton Law Firm, and Rea Boudreau of The Brannon Corporation for helping make this project possible.