Amazon To Open West Jefferson Distribution Center

Central Ohio may be an underdog in the competition for Amazon's second North American headquarters, but the online retailer is at least bringing another order fulfillment center here.

The company announced on Monday that a new West Jefferson center will employ about 1,500 people by the end of next year.

Amazon already operates order fulfillment centers in Etna and Obetz, as well as several Central Ohio data centers.

“We are excited to open a new, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in West Jefferson, and to continue innovating in Ohio – a state committed to providing great opportunities for jobs and customer experience,” said Mark Stewart, Amazon’s Vice President of North America Customer Fulfillment, in a press release.

The press release says Amazon has created more than 6,000 full-time jobs in Ohio and invested more than $2 billion in the state since 2011.

Columbus is among the 20 finalists in the running to land Amazon’s second North American headquarters. Central Ohio, though, is considered a long-shot in the competition that includes Boston, Dallas, and Washington, D.C.