North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Amazon has broken ground on a robotics fulfillment center in Wilmington, a 650,000-sq. ft. building expected to open in 2026.
The structure, which spans more than 3 million sq. ft. with four-and-a-half floors, will handle the initial phase of package processing before items are sent to other centers for delivery. This will be part of Amazon’s “first mile” network, aiming to streamline its operations and improve efficiency for faster delivery times.
“This is an exciting step for us in Wilmington,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s Vice President of Worldwide Economic Development. “North Carolina has proven itself to be a great place for Amazon to do business, and we look forward to creating more than 1,000 job opportunities with great pay and benefits for the local community.”
Amazon has invested about $12 billion in North Carolina since 2010 and the new center is being built along the New Hanover-Pender County line.
“The arrival of Amazon is a testament to the growth and success of our community,” said Randy Burton, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners. “We are grateful to our partners at Wilmington Business Development for their dedication to this project, and we look forward to supporting Amazon as it expands its operations here.”
Bill Rivenbark, chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, added, “This facility brings diversification to our economy and signifies the arrival of a global leader with a strong commitment to civic engagement.”
Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development, called the development of the Amazon facility a historic milestone for the region. “This is the largest economic development announcement in regional history, and it’s the result of years of hard work by our team and partners.”
The new fulfillment center is expected to be a major driver of job creation and economic growth for Greater Wilmington.