Amazon is ‘primed’ to locate in the Birmingham metro area, according to report

According to a news report from the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ), Amazon.com Inc. is considering a site in Bessemer for a fulfillment center. The new facility will employ at least 1,500 and possibly up to 3000 people in the Birmingham metro area.

The project would be located on U.S. Steel  property off Powder Plant Road near Bessemer High School and Alabama Splash Adventure. Birmingham is currently the largest metro area in the nation without an Amazon fulfillment center, according to BBJ research.Compared to neighboring states, the location of a fulfillment center in Birmingham is long overdue. Presently, Florida and Tennessee have secured  five Amazon centers and Georgia three facilities.

Remember Bring Amazon to Birmingham?

Late last year, Birmingham made a run at attracting the second Amazon Headquarters (coined Amazon HQ2) to the Magic City.  The Bring Amazon to Birmingham campaign garnered national attention for its creativity when economic and civic leaders placed large oversized Amazon boxes in front of popular city destinations, such as the new Pizitz Food Hall and Railroad Park.

Even though the campaign was unsuccessful, some Seattle insider publications gave Birmingham a fighting chance in its quest to lure  Amazon HQ2 to the Deep South.

Bham Now: Seattle-based HR tech company picks Birmingham as potential Amazon HQ2 site

West Jefferson County and Bessemer on a roll

A potential Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer would be the 2nd large economic development project announcement in the city and the western Jefferson County area within the past two months, coinciding with the Bessemer-based Milos Tea expansion in April.

Tight -lipped

Despite the BBJ report, public officials and economic development officials are tight-lipped about the potential Amazon project. Let’s hope they are successful in closing the deal with the e-commerce juggernaut.

Stay tuned to  Bham Now  when the news breaks.