Newspaper Reports Ruskin Amazon Deal Sealed

Calling it "a grand slam for our community," Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan reportedly confirmed for the The Tampa Tribune that online retailer Amazon has signed a deal to open a 1 million square-foot distribution center in Ruskin .

According to the report, written by Michael Sasso and posted at TBO.com, construction will begin construction immediately and the company is expected to hire more than 1,000 people.

• For more on this development, see  Amazon Signs Dead For Distribution Center In Ruskin / TBO.com

As noted in an earlier Patch report, the proposed fulfillment center, according to county officials, is expected to generate more than 1,000 permanent jobs, including the 375 higher-wage jobs expected to draw average salaries of $47,581.

The center also would create additional seasonal temporary employment opportunities and generate up to $200 million in capital investment, including a one- million square-foot, state- of the-art facility, according to the county news report.

According to a June 13 post at the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Amazon has pledged to spend more than $300 million on warehouses in Florida through 2016, creating more than 3,000 jobs. But with a Florida foothold, the post continues, Amazon would be required to charge its Florida-based customers the state's sales tax on purchases made through the Internet retailer.

• 1,000 Jobs Possible With Amazon.com South County Interest