Amazon Logistics on Thursday announced it has signed a lease in an effort to open two new delivery stations in the Birmingham metropolitan area.

The stations, both expected to open in 2021, will power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in and around Alabama’s largest city, according to a release from the company.

“We are excited to continue to invest in the state of Alabama with two new delivery stations that will provide efficient delivery for customers and create hundreds of job opportunities. These delivery stations represents Amazon’s unwavering commitment to safety, technological innovations and skilled teams who are obsessed with delivering for our customers,” commented Owen Torres, Amazon spokesperson.

Packages are shipped to a delivery station from neighboring Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers, loaded into delivery vehicles, and delivered to customers.

The new delivery stations will be located in Birmingham and Bessemer, reportedly creating hundreds of full- and part-time associate jobs, all paying at least $15 per hour, in addition to hundreds of driver opportunities for Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners and Amazon Flex drivers.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin stated, “Amazon’s announcement signals the resilience of our economy and the emergence of Birmingham as a logistics hub in the Southeast. It goes directly to our priority of job creation. It also provides a great opportunity to redevelop this strategic district of our city.”

This latest announcement comes after Amazon opened a fulfillment center in Bessemer earlier this year.

“I am extremely excited with the relationship the city of Bessemer has established with Amazon,” said Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley. “The Fulfillment Center which opened earlier this year has been a tremendous success and has given opportunity to many of our residents as well as others throughout Jefferson County and the surrounding communities. I have no doubt this Amazon delivery station will continue to build on Amazon’s success here in Bessemer and continue to create even more job opportunities for our residents. I am so proud of all the successful economic growth in our city. This is indicative of what can truly be realized when all of us – city, county, and state – come together for the good of all.”

Amazon also offers benefits from the first day of employment and training programs for in-demand jobs. Employment opportunities can be explored here.

Additionally, delivery stations offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex. To learn more, visit www.logistics.amazon.com and https://flex.amazon.com.

Jeff Traywick, vice president of Economic Development for the Birmingham Business Alliance, said in a statement, “The Birmingham Business Alliance has enjoyed our relationship with Amazon since they first looked to our region as a location for their now-operational, best-in-class fulfillment center. We are happy to see their continued growth with these delivery stations and the quality job opportunities that come with them. The local team, including US Steel, Jefferson County, the Cities of Bessemer and Birmingham, and our utility partners, have all worked hard to ensure the same high level of local support that they have become known for amongst our new and expanding industries.”

“With a large-scale fulfillment center already operating in Jefferson County, Amazon’s decision to open delivery centers in Bessemer and Birmingham shows that the internet retail giant sees Central Alabama as a prime location to energize its growth,” added Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn