The new Amazon center on the north edge of Davenport is expected to open in August and hire 1,000 people for what will be its second Iowa robotics fulfillment center. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
With all of the economic turmoil happening at retailers post-pandemic and the well-documented coverage of Amazon’s concerted effort to reduce its warehousing and distribution channels, we were uncertain if its newly built, massive fulfillment center in Davenport would ever get opened. Amazon, which had doubled the size of its fulfillment network during the pandemic, began […]
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With all of the economic turmoil happening at retailers post-pandemic and the well-documented coverage of Amazon’s concerted effort to reduce its warehousing and distribution channels, we were uncertain if its newly built, massive fulfillment center in Davenport would ever get opened.Amazon, which had doubled the size of its fulfillment network during the pandemic, began pulling back on its expansion last year as sales slowed, reported the Wall Street Journal. The e-commerce giant has closed, canceled or delayed work on 115 warehouses in the U.S. over the past year, according to logistics consultant MWPVL International.This news coincided with the heartburn-inducing announcement last year of a delay in the opening of the Davenport facility just off Interstate 80.There was even a report in the Wall Street Journal last week documenting that retailers were “shedding warehouse space and paring back their logistics networks now that the disruptions that slowed supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic have largely receded and consumer spending patterns are shifting toward services.” Thankfully, representatives from the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and Amazon announced that the Davenport facility will officially open in August.This is good news for the region. Now the primary challenge of opening the facility will shift to hiring the estimated 1,000 employees it needs over the next couple months.
Lehman’s JD Classic
Andrew Lehman, the new tournament director of the John Deere Classic, had big shoes to fill when longtime JDC Tournament Director Clair Peterson’s retired last year.Mr. Lehman is off to a good start.Deere & Co. just signed on for another three years as title sponsor and one of the hottest sports personalities in the country, University of Iowa Women’s Basketball star Caitlin Clark, agreed to participate in the JDC Pro-Am on July 5 with Iowa native Zach Johnson.“We are thrilled to be able to bring our fans the opportunity to see Caitlin Clark and Zach Johnson, two Iowa sports heroes, play in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am at TPC Deere Run. Zach has been the face of the tournament for many years and Caitlin’s presence will bring a jolt of electricity to the grounds and help us introduce youngsters and non-golf fans to this great game,” Mr. Lehman said in a news report.The annual JDC provides an impressive amount of charitable donations to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations in the region.According to the tournament, the $13.9 million fundraising total last year from its Birdies for Charity program works out to approximately $37 for each of the Quad Cities’ 375,000 residents. That again makes the JDC the No. 1 tournament in per capita contributions on the regular PGA Tour — a distinction the event has held for more than a decade now.The event also appropriately showcases the region and its title sponsor, Deere & Co., to a worldwide audience.We wish Mr. Lehman success.
