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Amazon has held a ribbon-cutting event for its first Montana logistics facility in Missoula, which can process between 6,500 and 7,000 packages a day and currently employs about 100 people. The facility, situated northeast of the Wye, will allow faster deliveries for Amazon customers within a 50-mile radius. The company did not pursue tax incentives for the facility, claiming that their decision was based on customer demand and available local workforce.
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Amazon Unveils First Montana Logistics Facility
Amazon, the e-commerce powerhouse, inaugurated its first logistics facility in Montana at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Missoula with Governor Greg Gianforte and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier on Wednesday.
Situated northeast of Wye, the 71,000-square-foot building is a strategic point where U.S. Highway 93 diverges from Interstate 90 towards Kalispell. The company has reportedly employed approximately 100 staff, excluding delivery drivers who are independent contractors. It currently processes between 6,500 and 7,000 packages daily but has the potential to scale up.
“There’s ample room for growth and efficient delivery for our customers,” mentioned Mabel Funderburk, Amazon’s site leader for the facility.
Funderburk also said the operation caters to customers within a 50-mile radius by dispatching about three dozen delivery loads per day. This new facility allows swifter deliveries to Missoula-area customers.
Unlike Amazon’s larger fulfillment centers that store un-purchased items, the Missoula facility focuses on logistics – transferring regional shipments from large trucks to local vans for final delivery to customers.
The ground staff in the facility who sort and move packages earn between $17 and $19.40 per hour, according to Amazon spokesperson Scott Seroka.
Gianforte, a Republican who is seeking re-election, praised his administration’s economic development initiatives during his speech. “Montana’s business-friendly environment and unsurpassed quality of life have attracted Amazon,” he said. “Our residents will benefit from more jobs.”
Strohmaier, a Democrat, underscored Missoula’s assets like a clean environment, recreational access, and an award-winning library, which make it attractive for investments like Amazon’s new facility.
Strohmaier emphasized the importance of growth policy and zoning in facilitating development.
When asked about Montana’s role in attracting Amazon, Gianforte explained that it was more about not impeding growth rather than active recruitment. He contrasted this with the state’s proactive efforts in inviting German manufacturer VACOM to set up a manufacturing center in Lewistown last year.
Amazon’s regional economic development policy manager, Sam Bailey, revealed that the company is considering hiring workers affected by the recent timber industry closures in Missoula. The decision to build the facility in Missoula was based on customer demand and local workforce availability rather than tax incentives, Bailey added.
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