Amazon opens Elkhart delivery station

Amazon this week opened a 171,000-square-foot delivery station in Elkhart, one of two major projects the online retail giant has underway in Elkhart County.

The delivery station, 2695 Aeroplex Drive, serves as a hub between neighboring fulfillment and sortation centers and delivery vehicles. The facility employs more than 250 workers with an average starting wage of $19 an hour, Amazon said Wednesday.

“We’re proud to deepen our roots in Elkhart County with this new delivery station,” Laura Harris, Amazon Elkhart delivery station senior site lead, said in a news release. “Through collaboration with local leaders and community partners, we’re committed to creating positive impact through job creation, entrepreneurial opportunities, and reliable delivery service for our customers.”

The Elkhart delivery station will use custom-built Rivian electric delivery vehicles, among more than 30,000 electric vehicles Amazon says it already has deployed nationwide. Eight local delivery partners also will operate from the station. Independent contractors also can participate through the Amazon Flex program.

The facility adds to Amazon’s presence in Indiana, which includes more than 26,000 full- and part-time employees across 37 facilities.

An 800,000-square-foot robotics fulfillment center also is expected to open in the next few months in Elkhart County. Amazon is actively hiring for more than 1,000 full-time positions, Inside INdiana Business reported in July.

The facility was originally slated to open in 2023 but has faced continued delays.