Watch CBS News

Amazon Announces New Distribution Center In Central Florida

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- About 500 new full-time jobs will be created in Central Florida as online retail giant Amazon announces plans to open a new distribution center in the area.

The retailer said in a statement Wednesday that employees will pick, pack and ship large items such as patio furniture, kayaks, bicycles fishing rods and pet food at a 1 million-square-foot facility in Auburndale, Florida.

Pay will start at $15 an hour with benefits.

Amazon currently employs more than 13,500 full-time workers in Florida.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the new distribution center was a "big win" for Polk County.

The county is part of Orlando's metro area which had the nation's fifth-largest increase for metropolises from mid-2017 to mid-2018. Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans moved to the Orlando area after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.