Area Development Magazine has named Georgia the Top State for Business for the eighth consecutive year, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday, Oct. 1 before he and First Lady Marty Kemp joined Augusta officials, business leaders and media in a tour of the Amazon Fulfillment facility in Appling.
“Georgia has been named top state for business for the eighth year in a row,” he said. “Our friends at Area Development named us number one in cooperative state government, workforce readiness programs, competitive labor environment and overall cost of doing business. These rankings helped us achieve this great goal again.”
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Kemp said his staff worked hand-in-hand with companies like Amazon to re-open industry across the state throughout the pandemic.
“I thank Amazon for continuing to choose Georgia’s pro-business environment to expand operations in our state,” Kemp said. “Today’s grand opening of the state of the art robotics fulfillment center is a testament to all that this state has to offer. Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 21,000 jobs in the Peach State and invested more than $6.5 billion in the state of Georgia. We are going to keep our foot on the gas and continue to bring more jobs and more opportunities to every region of our state.”
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A tour of the four story, 450,000-square foot facility gave attendees an idea of the advanced technology Amazon is using to sort, package and ship packages efficiently throughout the region.
Jessica Brooks, an Amazon associate, said most of the technology and strategies employed in the facility are proprietary and unique to them.
“We have new robotics that ease the physical strain on our associates, nine miles of conveyor belt to transport packages throughout the facility, and we are the only site in Georgia with the Robin system,” Brooks said.
The Robin system is used when a high volume of packages needs sorting. The system scans the label on a package and places it on the proper Pegasus robot, a squat cart of sorts that operates on a track to transport packages to the appropriate area of the facility.
Employees are encouraged to join affinity groups such as Women@Amazon or BEN (Black Employee Network) in order to stay connected and get together after work. Most employees work on a four-day, 10-hour a day system with three days off each week, according to Brooks.
There are Fastenal vending machines on the facility floor where associates can scan their ID card whenever they need supplies like ear plugs or PPE.
MORE: Amazon Sortation Center Underway in Appling
Ashley Lansdale of Amazon PR said a facility in Savannah will be one of Amazon’s next investments in the state of Georgia.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com.
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