Amazon is preparing to build two new fulfillment centres in Chicago’s south suburbs, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced on June 22
The 855,000-sq. ft. warehouses in Matteson and Markham, will be the first in Cook County to feature the company’s robotics technology, the company says.
The structures at 7001 Vollmer Rd. in Matteson and 15924 Western Ave. in Markham should be ready for the holiday season 2021 shipping demands, the company says.
There are currently 11 Illinois Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers — in Joliet, Aurora, Crest Hill, Edwardsville, Minooka, Monee, Romeoville, Waukegan and Wood Dale.
“I’m committed to making Illinois a leader and placing us among the most forward-thinking and innovative states in the country,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. “I’m excited to see Amazon increasing their presence here in Illinois and creating thousands of much-needed jobs for our residents.”
“The Village of Matteson is thrilled to welcome Amazon to our town,” said Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin in a statement. “This particular project is clearly an economic engine that will attract hundreds of jobs to our town.”
“We believe that the economic benefit experienced by the City of Markham and surrounding communities will be great and I am truly grateful to Amazon,” said Mayor Roger Agpawa..
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said: “This investment comes at a critical time as we reckon with impacts of COVID-19, and begin the difficult work of recovering,” Preckwinkle said. “With high unemployment rates because of the pandemic, this is a real challenge, and I look forward to working with Amazon to hire locally to help Southland communities recover.”
In April, Amazon said will invest $150 million in a new 1.2 million-sq. ft. fulfillment center near Interstate 57 and University Parkway in University Park.
Amazon, through the project’s developer, Venture One Real Estate, will pay $1 million in impact fees to the village to buy Police and Fire department vehicles, although the village would, over a couple of years, pay that money back, The Chicago Tribune reported then.
