Click here for updates on this story
IRVINGTON, AL (WALA) — A Walmart distribution center officially opened its doors this week in Mobile County.
State and local leaders are happy about the move because the facility will create around 750 jobs and help the Port of Mobile at the same time.
The import distribution center is the first stop for goods coming in from overseas.
“The thing that attracted us to Mobile is really the partnership that we had with the port, with the city, and with the county,” said Jeff Breazeale, a Vice-President at Walmart.
The facility will not directly serve stores, instead, it will send goods to other distribution centers.
Local leaders have been working toward this moment for years.
“We’re excited. It just tells the world that we’re in business, we’re in the logistics business, ship it through mobile,” said Jerry Carl, a Mobile County Commissioner.
That message is also felt by state leaders who are excited about what it could mean for the future.
“They could have chosen any other state to locate in, but they chose Alabama and I’m proud of that and we also have the close proximity to the Port of Mobile and good interstate travel,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.
The center is huge, measuring about 2.6 million square feet, roughly the size of about 45 football fields.
Walmart said this is one of their biggest distribution centers in the country.
“I average anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 steps a day, so not only is the pay competitive, but the health benefits are great,” said Shaun Chapman, a distribution center employee.
The $135 Million center was announced about two years, long before President Trump’s import tariffs.
The majority of the goods coming into this facility are from abroad.
“We know that we do not need tariffs in Alabama, so I’m just hoping and continuing to work with the White House to say look these folks are hiring our people and investing in our state,” said Governor Ivey. “We’re doing great just leave us alone.”
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
