Amazon Canada has announced plans to create a fulfilment centre and delivery station in Hamilton, located near John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope.

The fulfilment centre represents one of the largest local investments in terms of square footage in the city’s history. These private investments in Hamilton’s goods movement sector will bring more than 1,500 new jobs when the facilities are scheduled to open in 2021.

Employees at the 855,000-square-foot fulfillment centre will work alongside Amazon robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and toys. In addition, a new 50,000-square-foot delivery station in Stoney Creek will power the last mile of Amazon’s order fulfillment process. Packages are transported to these delivery stations from Amazon fulfillment and sortation centres, and then loaded into vehicles for delivery to customers.

With a renewed focus on air cargo/transportation, Hamilton now has a prime opportunity to develop and promote the Airport Employment Growth District (AEGD) as a North American Gateway hub for logistics, distribution and goods movement, and to develop a Hamilton alliance with partners to jointly market opportunities for development and increase the awareness of Hamilton’s infrastructure strengths.

“With Amazon Canada’s announcement of their intent to invest in Hamilton, this solidifies Hamilton’s position as a Canadian goods movement leader, encapsulates the type of investments targeted for the Airport Employment Growth District and illustrates investor confidence from one of the most recognizable brands and the largest e-commerce company in the world,” said Norm Schleehahn, director of economic development, City of Hamilton.

This will be Amazon’s ninth facility in Ontario and its 15th fulfillment centre in Canada.