Niagara, N.Y. (WBEN) - Understand this about the Amazon fulfillment center, currently under construction in the Town of Niagara.
Massive only begins to describe the project.
Massive in its size, scope and construction costs, at 3.1 million-square-feet the Lockport Road complex is 17 times larger than its two-year-old "Last Mile" 183,623-square-foot distribution center in the Town of Hamburg.
Massive in its development cost: At least $550 million, making it the second largest regional construction project outside of the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Massive in terms of employment: Just to build the sprawling center, more than 1,000 construction workers have been needed, with many still on site some two years into the project. Amazon said it will employ at least 1,000 people when the center opens next summer.
Massive in terms of the land where it sits: 216 acres - almost twice as large as the Walden Galleria's footprint.
"Anyway you look at it, the center is providing a lot of spin off," said Andrea Klyczek, Niagara County Industrial Development Agency executive director.
The IDA is helping Niagara County agencies and Amazon in securing workers for the site.
"It's not just jobs there but finding workers for the spin off businesses," Klyczek said.
There's already preliminary signs of how the Amazon center is creating spin off opportunities.
Just across Lockport Road, a new Tim Hortons is under construction and there's also a recently-opened Dollar General. Small sample sizes, to be sure, but signs nonetheless of economic spin off.
The center is Amazon's second largest fulfillment hub in New York state and, when it opens, will be one of four distribution and logistics operations in the region operated by the online retailing behemoth.
"It will mean a lot to the town (of Niagara), Niagara County and the region," Klyczek said.