Amazon to build giant fulfillment center next to BNSF intermodal site

Amazon.com Inc. has plans to build a 800,000-square-foot fulfillment center adjacent to BNSF Railway Co.'s Logistics Park Kansas City intermodal facility in Edgerton, Kan., the online retailer and state officials announced last week.

The fulfillment center, which is expected to employ 1,000 full-time workers, will pick, pack and ship large retail items to customers, according to a press release issued by Amazon.com.

The project is a joint effort of BNSF, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Transportation, NorthPoint Development, KCP&L, city of Edgerton and Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corp.

"The quality of the Kansas workforce and our central location in the heart of the nation contributed to [Amazon's] decision to locate in Logistics Park Kansas City," said Gov. Sam Brownback.