In a special meeting on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the City Council approved a purchase of 10.59 acres in the New River Business Park off Harrigan Road that will be developed into an Amazon Distribution facility.
The $10 million project will create a minimum of 25 jobs to start as well as 40 contract delivery positions.
“At this phase, as we determine capacity there will be 25 jobs with benefits on day one,” said Sam Bailey, the economic development policy manager for Amazon who spoke during the council meeting. He said after 90 days the company pays for “upscaling” skills and education for employees who stay with the company.
Bailey referred to the facility as a last-mile delivery station where packages from Las Vegas and Reno are delivered by semi-truck to the site and then sorted for routes within a 60-mile delivery radius. Trucks arrive around 5 a.m. and last-mile delivery drivers leave the facility, generally, by 10 a.m. to complete their routes.
The 40 delivery positions are filled by contractors who drive Amazon delivery vans, but the facility will also use Amazon Flex drivers who use their own vehicles similar to Uber or Lyft. Those drivers usually handle less than 20 packages in a route and are paid an hourly rate plus an amount for the number of deliveries made.
“The 25 number is conservative,” said Bailey, “and we will assess that as we build out.”
Councilwoman Kelly Frost favors the sale, saying, “I appreciate those who sat in these seats before me and their foresight to create the Business Park. This is a great project for the city and the community as a whole.”
Bailey went on the record thanking the city for their process in getting the sale and the project underway. “You have a phenomenal staff,” Bailey said. “I cover seven states, and this is one of the most business-friendly and efficient processes I’ve experienced in terms of citing a new property. We understand you’ve identified this site as vital for your community’s economic future which we want to be a partner in.”
The project is anticipated to be completed by January 2025, if not sooner.
“I’m very excited that a national company such as Amazon has shown confidence in Fallon to locate here,” said Mayor Ken Tedford. “The creation of 25 full time jobs, plus an additional 40 part time contract drivers is a boon to our employment market.”
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