The Mountain West will be getting at least two new Amazon warehouses this year, including Idaho’s first in Nampa.
Nampa’s “fulfillment center”, which will help Amazon fill orders on things like books and toys, is planned to open next fall with about 1,000 employees. That would make it the largest employer in the city, overtaking Walmart, which is estimated to employ between 800-900 workers. Overall, Amazon comes in second to Walmart as the nation’s largest private employer.
Nampa mayor Debbie Kling said she’s excited the company chose her city, and said it was likely because the area’s population — and Amazon orders — are growing so fast.
“Amazon actually had done a lot of their research before we were even aware that they were interested in landing where they are,” she said.
Nampa’s population has grown 86% in the last 20 years. That mirrors growth in other major Mountain West areas, which in turn is attracting more big business.
The company’s $15 minimum wage would be a boost for a state where the minimum wage is about $7.25 an hour.
While there has been some research pointing to Amazon killing small business, Kling said she hopes the center actually helps local Nampa businesses find more direct routes to the company’s international market.
In August, Amazon announced its plan to open a new fulfillment center in West Jordan, Utah, the state’s second.
Amazon did not return calls for comment.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
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