On July 22, 2019, Amazon.com, Inc. announced its plans to open two additional fulfillment centers in Ohio, creating 2,500 full-time jobs with comprehensive benefits and opportunities to work alongside Amazon Robotics. The two 700,000-square-foot centers — one in northeast and one in northwest Ohio — represent a combined $300 million capital investment and bring the company’s total investment in the state to $5 billion.

Market access was critical for company’s two new distribution centers in order to increase efficiency and capacity to best serve its Midwest and Southeast U.S. customers. With several existing distribution centers in Ohio that “delivered” on Amazon customer expectations, Amazon was interested in reinvesting in the state.

In addition to Ohio’s location within a one-day drive from more than 60% of the U.S. and Canadian populations, the state also holds a unique set of assets that helped meet Amazon’s needs. Ohio’s infrastructure boasts the fourth-largest interstate highway system in the nation, 10 major rail terminals, seven commercial air carrier airports and one of the world’s only cargo-focused airports. Ohio was also named a Top 10 best state for business by CNBC, with much of the credit going to the state’s logistics and distribution assets.

A wide range of Ohio organizations and cities worked together to present Amazon with a tailored plan to best fit the company’s needs. Partners including JobsOhio, Team NEO, the Regional Growth Partnership, cities and administrations in both Akron and Rossford, Ohio, Seefried Industrial Properties, Duke Realty, the Development Finance Authority of Summit County and the Wood County Port Authority each brought something powerful and unique to the table.

All told, Ohio is now home to more than 8,500 Amazon employees, all with comprehensive benefits, parental leave, upskill training and a host of other innovative benefits.

But the benefits for both Amazon and Ohio do not to stop there. Using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates that its investments in the state of Ohio have created an additional 19,000 indirect jobs.

JobsOhio continues to collaborate with its partners to make Ohio a prime choice for a wide range of businesses across nearly every industry looking for a home. Amazon’s continued investment in Ohio is a testament to the state as a nationally leading logistics hub and great place to do business.