News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
FedEx broke ground on its new distribution facility coming to Cookeville’s Tennessee Avenue Wednesday morning.
The some 251,000 square foot ground distribution facility will bring up to 250 jobs to the area. Highlands Economic Partnership President/CEO Amy New said the site will impact more than just the workforce.
“It also really helps our existing industries,” New said. “Even next door to them Academy Sports is using FedEx for distributing, and it will also be a recruiting tool to us for the Highlands Business Park to say we have a FedEx distribution hub.”
The distribution hub will directly deliver e-commerce orders as well as supplier shipments. New said the expansion shows that the city is a hub for this type of industry.
“Also shows that industries in our area the need for those logistics and delivery related distribution hubs,” New said. “This is a massive facility too, so just that alone, that type of impact that it’s going to have in the county is tremendous.”
New said local leadership always had a vision to develop that area and started discussions on the distribution center some seven years ago. New said it is exciting to finally see that plan fulfilled.
Westmoreland Company will develop the project which is designed by Castles Design Group. T.W Frierson will construct the facility. The some 48 acre site is expected to begin operation in November.
New said FedEx has been present in Cookeville for many years but not at this level. A shipping center is located on Jackson Street.
