HANCOCK COUNTY — Amazon has plans to operate out of another large property in the county after the original tenant had to back out when it started seeking financial restructuring.
Carmel-based Becknell Industrial began development last year on a nearly $30 million facility of over 500,000 square feet on the north side of County Road 200N west of 700W in Alliance Interstate Park. The site is between Landsberg Orora and Brybelly.
Becknell Industrial was developing the building for Spectra Premium, an auto parts manufacturer based in Quebec, Canada. Spectra Premium, which operates a warehouse of about 250,000 square feet on the north side of County Road 300N east of Mt. Comfort Road that employs about 300, said at the time that business growth for the company demanded more space in Hancock County.
Randy Sorrell, executive director of the Hancock Economic Development Council, said at a Hancock County Council meeting earlier this month that the building was ready for occupancy early this year.
However, Spectra Premium announced in early March 2020 that it was seeking protection to provide time to restructure its operations and debt.
Sorrell and Briane House, a lawyer representing Becknell Industrial, said at the recent county council meeting that Spectra Premium’s lease for the new Hancock County building was rejected in bankruptcy court.
“However, Becknell’s been able to find another tenant, which is Amazon,” House said.
He added the number of jobs Amazon will bring will be slightly less than Spectra Premium’s, but that the overall compensation package is higher. House also said Amazon’s operations will result in a significant amount of third-party delivery drivers.
Sorrell said Amazon will use the building as one of its “last-mile” centers.
Amazon’s website states Last Mile teams help “get customer packages from delivery stations to a customer’s doorstep.”
Spectra Premium is still operating in Hancock County.
“In fact, they still have a ‘help wanted’ sign out,” he added.
House and Sorrell spoke to the council to get Becknell Industrial’s tax abatement paperwork reconfirmed in light of the new tenant. The council approved the abatement in 2018 and reconfirmed it at the recent meeting.
Amazon became operational at a new 615,000-square foot fulfillment center earlier this month on the north side of County Road 300N west of 400W. The company plans to hire 800 employees to work there.
