Amazon Opens High-Tech Fulfillment Center in Wilmington

Amazon officially celebrated the grand opening of its new fulfillment center in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Monday. The facility, located in Pender Commerce Park, has been operational since August but marked its official launch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and local leaders. This is Amazon's first direct-to-consumer fulfillment and delivery center in Wilmington, creating 1,000 full-time jobs and potentially speeding up delivery times for the Wilmington and Myrtle Beach metro areas.

The 3.2-million-square-foot building is one of four such facilities nationwide, integrating advanced AI, robotics, and automation to reduce processing times by up to 25%. The technology also creates 30% more skilled technical roles in reliability, maintenance, and engineering. The facility operates 24/7 and can process around a million items daily, serving the southeastern U.S., including Louisiana.

During the event, Amazon announced a $20,000 donation to The Forward Fund, an organization supporting student enrollment, graduation, and high-wage employment in the Wilmington area. The company has invested over $20 billion in North Carolina since 2010, expanding its rural delivery network with five new stations in the state, adding 700 jobs. The company's operations have contributed over 20,000 indirect jobs and added $20 billion to the state's GDP.

'What you see inside this facility is the future of how we deliver for customers,' said Holly Sullivan, vice president of Economic Development at Amazon. 'But the technology is only part of the story. Behind every robot is a team of employees building careers, learning new skills, and growing with Amazon.'