Chad Klimack
 

ETNA - Less than a year after announcing its plans, Amazon has opened a large-scale distribution center in Etna Township.

Township officials confirmed the news Wednesday.

"Amazon officially opened today," said Etna Trustee John Carlisle, referencing the 800,000-square-foot center, which stands on U.S. 40, just north of Interstate 70.

Carlisle said the e-commerce giant held an employees-only ceremony, but neither township officials nor the media were invited.

A representative from the Seattle-based company did confirm to The Standard there would be a grand opening ceremony, but it would not be held until after the busy holiday season, Amazon spokesperson Lauren Lynch wrote in an email.

Carlisle and the rest of the township first learned of Amazon's plans in November 2015.

Construction crews worked through the winter to erect the enormous center, which measures 800,000 square feet and stands on a nearly-100-acre site.

While Amazon was mum on Wednesday's opening, the company did open the doors to its still-under construction center in May.

The center contains four floors, with each containing a football-field-like robotics field. Floor-hugging robots use QR codes to select ordered items, streamlining the e-commerce giant's operation.

An Amazon spokesperson told The Standard during the tour the company would employ 1,500 full-time associates, but last week Amazon Human Resources Coordinator Toni Turner told The Newark Advocate the company plans to have as many as 3,000 seasonal employees.

Area officials are excited about the job-hiring possibilities.

Read more HERE.