ELKHART — Company and community leaders on Friday announced they were celebrating the opening of Amazon’s massive advanced robotics fulfillment center in Elkhart.
The 800,000-square-foot facility will employ approximately 1,000 full-time employees who will work alongside innovative robotics technology to enhance customer delivery speeds across the region, the company said Friday in making the announcement.
“On behalf of the citizens of Elkhart County, I welcome the launch of Amazon operations in their new distribution center adjacent to the Indiana Toll Road,” Elkhart County Councilman Douglas Graham said. “This investment in Elkhart County will provide many employment opportunities and the resulting tax revenue will strengthen our economic base. This industrial footprint will lead to further development and additional benefits to the local economy.”
Chris Stager, president/CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County, also noted the high-tech jobs being created.
“Amazon is a world leader in online retail commerce and data center technologies,” he said. “We sincerely appreciate their investment in Elkhart County to grow their Northern Indiana capabilities to best serve their customers.”
Amazon will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-October to commemorate the launch of the fulfillment center. Local officials, community leaders, and Amazon representatives will gather to celebrate this state-of-the-art facility and its impact on the region. The facility was built on an extension of C.R. 4, north of the Indiana Toll Road, that was renamed in honor of the late congresswoman Jackie Walorski.
“The new Amazon robotics fulfillment center will be a great asset for Elkhart and the surrounding communities as it will increase economic development, boost job growth and spur our local economy,” state Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, said in the release. “Indiana’s strong economy and business-friendly climate continue to attract innovative companies to locate and expand in our state. I’m excited this opportunity has come to fruition and look forward to working with Amazon to ensure this is a win-win for all parties involved,”
The next-generation facility features Amazon’s most advanced robotics systems, including hundreds of autonomous mobile robots that safely transport items throughout the building. These innovations enable employees to focus on more skilled work while reducing physical strain, creating a seamless collaboration between workforce and technology that enhances both workplace safety and operational efficiency.
Amazon on Aug. 27 announced the opening of a 171,000-square-foot delivery station at 2695 Aeroplex Drive in Elkhart. That facility supports over 250 employees.
Employees at the fulfillment center will handle receiving, picking, packing and shipping hundreds of thousands of customer orders daily ranging from books to toys to housewares.
“This next-generation robotics fulfillment center showcases what’s possible when innovative technology meets community talent,” said site leader Bhautik Motiwala. “By creating over a thousand great jobs in Elkhart, we’re not just launching a facility – we’re opening doors to new careers, advancing local workforce development, and strengthening the economic future of this region. We’re proud to call Elkhart home and excited to grow with this community.”
Jobs remain available at the facility, with positions starting at over $19 per hour and a full range of benefits and additional training. Interested candidates must be 18-plus and can apply online at amazon.com/localjobs or text JOBEVENT to 31432 for alerts about new openings.
Since 2010, Amazon said, the company has invested $25.5 billion in Indiana through infrastructure development and employee compensation, operating 37 facilities statewide.