Last week, the BBA announced that North Carolina-based home improvement retailer Lowe’s will build a new distribution center in Bessemer.
Lowe’s will contract with developer Clayco to construct and lease back the facility. The new facility will house bulk items for distribution like refrigerators and water heaters and will provide stock space for 112 stores throughout the Southeastern region.
“We are extremely excited that Lowe’s Companies Inc. has decided to increase its footprint in the Southeastern United States by locating here in Bessemer,” Mayor Kenneth Gulley said.
“This is the latest in our efforts to position Bessemer as an economic powerhouse for manufacturing and industrial development in this county, state and region,” Gulley said.
Economic developer Nicole Jones said, “Distribution centers are one of the state of Alabama’s foundational business targets, meaning services they provide support a myriad of industries within our state. Products distributed through the Lowe’s Home Improvement facility in Bessemer (Jefferson County), for example, contribute to both the trucking and retail industries.”
“Ease of access to interstates is a key factor in the site selection process for distribution centers. Lowes’ strategic selection of a location in Bessemer – with immediate access to Interstates 65 and 20/59 – will help the home improvement powerhouse fulfill its goals to quickly and efficiently serve customers in the Southeast,” Jones said. “Lowe’s Home Improvement’s construction of a 1.2 million square foot facility in Bessemer will create 150 jobs and demonstrates confidence in our state’s workforce. The project is a testament to the pro-business environment and continued high rankings Alabama has earned in studies conducted by national economic development publications. Thank you, Lowe’s Companies Inc., for your investment in Alabama.”
“This project shows resiliency in our local economy in that something this large has landed at a very critical time for both jobs and capital investment across the nation,” said Brian Jennings, vice president of economic development at the BBA. “This project provides access to jobs for the residents of Bessemer and may help backfill some displaced jobs as a result of COVID-19. It is a testament to the pro-business environment in Bessemer and the transportation structure within the Birmingham region.”
The bulk distribution facility will allow Lowe’s to provide quicker deliveries to customers across Alabama and the Southeast and will allow for next-day deliveries for a larger range of products housed within the facility.
“This project promotes Bessemer to a national audience as a place where e-commerce and distribution and logistics companies can thrive,” said Jeff Traywick, vice president of economic development at the BBA. “Lowe’s is a great corporate partner and joins a stellar roster of other distributors on the Lakeshore corridor like Amazon, Carvana, Dollar General and FedEx.”
Shipments from the facility are expected to begin a year from now in the fall of 2021.
Amazon Logistics has announced plans to open two new delivery stations in the Birmingham metro area, creating hundreds of jobs while speeding up deliveries for the internet retailer’s customers in the region.
A Carvana distribution center is being built on Morgan Road on a 98-acre property that is currently owned by U.S. Steel. The location is becoming a major distribution hub, housing facilities operated by several major retailers.
