Amazon fulfillment centre boosts small business in Carlsbad Springs
Posted Aug 12, 2019 10:20:09 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Ottawa Amazon fulfillment centre made its first shipment in early July and hasn't slowed down since.
The large centre, located in Carlsbad Springs currently employs 400 people and is looking to bring on another 200 employees in time for the holiday shopping season.
Mayor Jim Watson was joined by councillors Stephen Blais and George Darouze on Monday afternoon for a tour of the facility.
“I have to say it's a very impressive building, it's enormous, ” said Cumberland councillor Stephen Blais. “It's probably six or seven city blocks in length.”
During the tour of the facility, the politicians got to see how Amazon receives items. Blais said that Amazon Ottawa is the first facility in the world to use a specialized piece of sorting equipment.
The group also has a little fun.
“The mayor got to pack a box,” said Blais. “So some lucky recipient is going to get something from the mayor, delivered to their home.”
Blais said he's also looking forward to seeing how the Amazon Ottawa location helps boost the small village of Carlsbad Springs.
“Entrepreneurs who know how to identify a need and build a business, I think there's a lot of opportunity in this particular area to spin off from Amazon and what they're bringing,” said Blais. “I think the future has a lot of potential in Carlsbad Springs.”
He noted that this includes a restaurant that offers a place for Amazon employees to get lunch, to a gas station for people to fill up at on their way to or from work.
And driving to work is the only option for employees of Amazon Ottawa right now as OC Transpo services do not go out to Carlsbad Springs.
But, Councillor Blais says the city would be open to having a discussion with Amazon about transit.
“You need to have a certain degree of of ridership in order to justify the service and at the moment Carlsbad Springs is a relatively small community” explained Blais. “It's also outside the urban transit area, so the property tax situation in Carlsbad Springs is not the same as the rest of the city. They don't pay the urban transit levy.”
