MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
There are indications in Rutherford County that the online retailer Amazon could soon announce their plans to break ground on a new distribution center.
Around two dozen pieces of heavy equipment were recently hauled to a plot of land right next to the proposed site on Joe B. Jackson Parkway in the southeast part of Murfreesboro.
The equipment is apparently ready to groom the land now that the state has issued a $3.5 million grant for infrastructure at potential Amazon sites in Wilson and Rutherford counties.
The Amazon deal which would bring a distribution center and around 1,200 jobs to Rutherford County has seemed certain since the online retail giant agreed this fall to pay state sales tax and expand to two unannounced locations in Middle Tennessee; however, there has been long on-going negotiations in purchasing and preparing the potential Murfreesboro site.
State and local officials remain mum about the Amazon deal officially, but privately they are confident the deal will be done soon, possibly before Christmas.
The official announcement for the new distribution center can not come soon enough for those looking for a job.
DeAundrea Woods, 24, told Nashville's News 2 she has been searching for a job for the past two years after being laid off from a medical assistant's job.
"I have heard Amazon is going to locate here in Rutherford County and hopefully bring in some jobs and hopefully I might be one of them," she said.
She also thought an official Amazon announcement around Christmas would be a perfect holiday gift for those looking for work.
Related Stories:
- Oct. 7, 2011: Amazon to build new centers in Lebanon, Murfreesboro
- Oct. 6, 2011: Amazon to collect sales tax in Tenn., add 2,000 jobs
- Oct. 4, 2011: Attorney General says Amazon.com should collect sales tax
- Aug. 25, 2011: Amazon's tax deal impacts local business owners
- Jan. 30, 2011: Local booksellers battle online company
- May 8, 2011: Amazon proposes 3 distribution centers in Tenn.
- Dec. 20, 2010: Amazon.com to create 1,400 jobs in Tenn.
