November/December 2013
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The Port of Baltimore
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average 30 percent more than traditional
retail, and all full-time employees receive
stock grants. Amazon also offers innovative
programs such as Career Choice, where up
to 95 percent of an employee’s tuition is
pre-paid for courses related to in-demand
fields ranging from game design and IT
programming to nursing and radiology.
“We are proud to be bringing more
than 1,000 full-time jobs with great wages
and benefits to Baltimore,” said Mike Roth,
Amazon’s Vice President of North America
operations. “We are grateful to the state
and local elected officials who supported
Amazon coming to Maryland and we look
forward to being a part of the community.”
Maryland Port Administration Executive
Director James J. White spoke of Amazon’s
presence as “an outstanding opportunity
for the Port of Baltimore.”
“Ship owners always ask ports how
many distribution centers they have,” he
said. “If you can have a distribution facility
near your port, it gives you a better chance
to handle more cargo and grow jobs.”
White added, “We are sure that Amazon
Amazon.com
AT A GLANCE
•
Fortune 500 company, headquartered
in Seattle, opened on the World Wide
Web in July 1995.
•
Amazon.com and other sellers offer
millions of unique new, refurbished
and used items in categories such as
Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital
Downloads; Electronics & Computers;
Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby;
Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry;
Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors;
and Tools, Auto & Industrial.
is already aware of the infrastructure
improvements that we have made in the
last few years that have put us in a very
competitive position to attract additional
cargo, namely the 50-foot-deep container
berth and supersized cranes.” He also
offered his congratulations to Governor
O’Malley and the Maryland Department of
Business and Economic Development “on
working with Amazon to make this happen.”
The 184-acre site where General Motors
once operated an assembly plant was ac-
quired by Duke Realty in 2006. The property
where Amazon will be based is not only
close to the Port of Baltimore, but also offers
immediate access to I-95 and I-895 as well
as rail service by CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-
Blake said that growing Baltimore City’s
economy has been a major priority of hers.
“The fulfillment center presents a unique
industrial development opportunity due
to its location to the Port of Baltimore, as
well as its access to the city and interstate
highway system,” she noted. “I am proud
of the City’s efforts, working in partnership
with the State, Duke Realty and Amazon
to bring this fulfillment center and jobs to
Baltimore City.”
Baltimore Development Corporation
President and CEO Brenda McKenzie also
applauded the group effort that led to the
deal being made, and added, “Baltimore is
a vibrant, growing city that is a great place
to do business, and we welcome Amazon
as our newest corporate partner.”
