Need another reason to invest in Kansas City? Amazon.com will soon be bringing 1,000 jobs to the metro area.
According to a March 24, 2016, press release, the online retail giant plans to open a fulfillment center in Egerton, Kansas. The center will operate with 1,000 full-time hourly positions, as well as upper-level managers and customer support staff.
Amazon will operate a state-of-the-art, 822,000-square-foot facility at Logistics Park in Edgerton. The Fortune 500 company will occupy the entire space, the largest-ever industrial spec in the Kansas City area.
Local economic leaders and politicians are excited for this venture. Egerton Mayor Donald Roberts and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback cited the addition of jobs to the area. Greg Martinette, president of the Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corp., told the Kansas City Star, “This is outstanding in that a big name like Amazon, a recognizable company, really helps us to continue marketing the area to national and international companies.”
The addition of Amazon to the Kansas City market is not only an economic boon but will bring fresh talent as well. Amazon’s innovative Career Choice program pre-pays as much as 95 percent of tuition for courses in in-demand fields for full-time employees. This is a draw for prospective employees and participating individuals may finish their education and keep their talents local.
So what does this mean for investors? Major employers and job creation positively affect the rental market, as well as the population growth related to the introduction of a business such as Amazon. And with more Americans renting as home ownership declines (rates have fallen for eight years straight), these job seekers are likely to be seeking their next home.
Are you, like Amazon, ready to jump into KC? Click here to view a list of investment properties currently available from MC Properties.
For more information on Amazon and their move to the Kansas City area, check out the following articles:
Amazon will occupy all of KC area’s largest-ever industrial spec (Kansas City Business Journal)
Amazon fulfillment center to bring 1,000 jobs to Egerton (Kansas City Star)