Amazon opening new warehouse in Franklin

Amazon is building another warehouse in Indiana. 

The city of Franklin announced Wednesday that Amazon is opening a sort center at the northeast quadrant of the Interstate 65 interchange in Franklin this year. The company is leasing the 510,000-square-foot warehouse owned by Sunbeam Development Corporation. 

The project, which is in Johnson County south of Indianapolis, is expected to generate hundreds of jobs.  

"This is great news for Franklin and the entire state of Indiana, as Amazon continues to invest in the local market," Mayor Steve Barnett said in a news release. "We’re thrilled Amazon has chosen the Sunbeam Development location to expand their operation and we look forward to many partnerships in the future."

According to the city's announcement, the new Amazon facility will received inventor and workers will sort and ship orders. Amazon pays an average starting wage of $18 per hour for fulfillment and transportation roles.

Benefits for full-time employees include health, vision and dental insurance as well as a 50% 401K match, up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave and a tuition payment program for front-line workers. 

“Our ability to expand Indiana operations is the result of two things: incredible customers and a world-class workforce in the state,” Kyle DeGiulio, Amazon's regional economic development manager, said in a news release.

In December, Amazon announced the opening of fulfillment center for same-day orders in Greenwood. 

The Seattle-based multinational e-commerce company has more than one million employees. It has repeatedly faced criticism over working conditions at its warehouses and productivity quotas. Workers at some sites have sought to unionize. 

Contact IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com or call 317-617-2690. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.