Amazon plans late-summer move-in

Online retailer Amazon plans to start moving goods into its Hamilton and Bradley distribution centers in August or September, officials said Tuesday.

"This is a fast track trying to get this built and ready," said Doug Berry, the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce's vice president of economic development, about the Bradley project.

Also, Trevor Hamilton, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's chief economic development official, said he's confident Amazon and the state will work out a conflict over sales tax payments.

He said he can't comment on where Amazon and the state are on the issue now, but he believes the company had already considered it when deciding to invest in Tennessee.

Berry told a group of certified commercial real estate members that he hopes the difference is already resolved.

Gov. Bill Haslam said in Chattanooga earlier this month that Amazon shouldn't have to collect sales taxes because it is building a Hamilton County distribution center.

A state Department of Revenue rule change apparently affecting Amazon remains in limbo because of the governor's 45-day freeze on pending rules and regulations.

Amazon plans to create more than 1,400 full-time jobs in Hamilton and Bradley along with more than 2,000 seasonal slots.

Berry said the Bradley center, which will handle larger items, will have 226 of the total full-time jobs and 400 to 600 seasonal ones.

AMAZON SITESAmazon is building $139 million in distribution center space at Enterprise South industrial park in Hamilton County and off of Lauderdale Memorial Highway in Bradley County.

Hamilton said he has not heard when Amazon will begin hiring. An Amazon official said earlier it may hold job fairs this summer.

Amazon is investing $139 million in the two distribution centers which the Seattle-based retailer plans to have open for the Christmas holiday season.

Atlanta-based Seefried Industrial Properties is project developer for Amazon.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.

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