Amazon expects to complete construction on its new last-mile delivery facility in Montrose by the end of 2025 and plans to hire more than 50 employees when the site becomes operational.

The 12,000-square-foot facility, located at 496 County Road near Montrose Regional Airport, is already under construction and represents a major expansion of Amazon’s rural logistics network. It will serve customers within a 45- to 60-minute drive time, according to Sam Bailey, an Amazon senior manager of economic development policy for Colorado.

“The goal with facilities like the location in Montrose is to better connect communities with the broader Amazon network so that we can reduce delivery timelines for customers while at the same time creating new job opportunities,” Bailey said.

Amazon will deliver packages from the facility using a combination of Amazon-branded vans and independent drivers who sign up to deliver locally, Bailey said. Packages will arrive from larger fulfillment or sortation centers and be processed by employees on site for final delivery.

Most Amazon employees in fulfillment and transportation roles earn between $17 and $28 per hour, the company said.

Bailey said the site’s proximity to the airport was not selected with air cargo operations in mind. “It was identified as a competitive site based on its location, its zoning, and the fact that it would be well situated alongside other commercial activity,” he said.

The facility was developed without local incentives. “Amazon paid for the land and the investment at full cost,” Bailey said.

The project has been in the works for more than a year. Sandy Head, executive director of the Montrose Economic Development Corporation, said the organization worked closely with Amazon throughout the process.

“It has been an exciting venture working with Amazon and their team over the last 15 months,” Head said in a statement. “Amazon will bring good paying jobs and new opportunities to Montrose. It is an honor to have them choose Montrose for this distribution facility.”

City of Montrose Mayor David Frank also offered words via a news release.

“The City of Montrose welcomes businesses that offer employment at a higher wage and offer more economic diversity to our community,” Frank said.

Amazon says it has created more than 20,000 full- and part-time jobs in Colorado since 2010 and has invested more than $15 billion statewide, including in infrastructure and employee compensation. The company estimates these investments have generated more than 29,600 indirect jobs across the state, from construction to logistics to professional services.

Bailey said Amazon hopes to take part in the Montrose community beyond job creation. The company plans to engage with local nonprofits and potentially make philanthropic contributions, especially in the education sector.

“When we expanded into Grand Junction, we identified a local education partner and provided a $10,000 grant,” Bailey said. “As we get closer to opening in Montrose, we’ll work to identify those priorities that are already within the community and find ways to support them through volunteering or philanthropic engagement.”

More details are expected to be released as the project nears completion, Bailey said.