Amazon earns praise from Baraka after opening delivery station (with 100+ jobs) in Newark

Amazon is opening yet another delivery station in New Jersey.

This week, it’s in Newark, a 640,000-square-foot facility at 429 Delancy St. will create more than 100 full- and part-time associate jobs, all paying at least $15 per hour. Last week, the company opened a location in West Caldwell.

Delivery stations receive packages from neighboring fulfillment and sortation centers. Once they arrive, they are loaded into delivery vehicles and delivered to customers.

The Newark location means the state now has nine delivery stations — and Amazon officials have said the company intends to open six more here by the end of the year.

In celebration of the Newark station launch, Amazon partnered with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center to provide meals for more than 500 of its employees who have been working tirelessly on the front lines during the pandemic.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Amazon’s presence is a huge plus for the city during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In this critical time where there is tremendous job loss and economic hardship, we are grateful for Amazon’s commitment and presence in Newark,” he said. “Providing new jobs and career opportunities for our residents will help many Newark families and the city on the road to recovery.”

Amazon officials said the job opportunities are greater than just those at the station.

Since delivery stations power the last mile of the order process, the station will offer hundreds of driver opportunities for Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners and Amazon Flex drivers.

Delivery stations offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as offer independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex, Amazon officials said.

The Newark delivery station is part of the latest hiring announcement by Amazon. On Monday, the company announced it would be hiring nearly 7,000 additional workers. By the end of the year, Amazon likely will be the largest corporate employer in the state.

Darryl Isherwood, a spokesperson in Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration, said the state welcomes Amazon’s continually growing presence.

“Amazon is an important piece of our state’s economic puzzle, and we welcome the announcement that they plan to hire an additional 6,900 New Jersey residents, particularly at a time when many are facing economic hardships,” he said.

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