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Construction is underway for the FedEx facility near the airport. FCL Builders is the major contractor. Shown here on site are FCL Project Superintendent Donald Schroat, Prescott Mayor Phil Goode, FCL Assistant Project Manager Cindi Owens and FCL Senior Project Manager Jon Diller. Photo by Stan Bindell
FedEx Distribution Facility Bringing Jobs, Attention to Quad Cities By Stan Bindell, QCBN
first and anchor tenant of this property. “We are pleased to have this opportunity to bring quality career jobs to the area,” he said. edEx Ground Distribution Facility is Initial permits have been issued and conconstructing the largest commercial struction is underway. FCL Builders is overseebuilding in Prescott’s history that will bring more high paying jobs to the community ing the construction. FedEx officials say they will start with at least and make it easier for residents to send and 80 well-paid hourly jobs with good benefits receive packages. when it opens. As business expands, FedEx The 220,000-square-foot building is being built on the south side of the airport on Melville plans to have three shifts. “We will see a lot of additional activity,” Road off of State Highway 89A. The location, near Prescott Regional Airport, Mayor Goode said. “One of the things we hope to bring in is more high tech businesses. is considered ideal, with packages being flown This will make the area more valuable to other in and out. Prescott Regional Airport is the 17th busiest airport in America and city officials businesses.” Mayor Goode said the community will benesay this will bring more air freight flights. fit from the FedEx Ground Distribution Facility Mayor Phil Goode said FedEx’s decision to through sales taxes on internet orders and from come to Prescott is a substantial validation of business orders. The amount of property tax the quality commercial development around coming into the city is less than 2% of its budthe airport - and he expects it will bring even get, so not much money will come into the city more quality commercial development to this from the FedEx property tax, he said. However, area by the airport. The FedEx facility is expected to open during he expects most of the funds benefiting the city from the distribution center will come from the the last quarter of this year, with construction transaction privilege tax, as more workers will slated to be completed by Oct. 21 be using area restaurants and other services in Mayor Goode credits Prescott’s substantial Prescott. economic development team with touting Mayor Goode said the FedEx Ground the area and helping FedEx Ground DistriDistribution Facility is important because it bution know about the benefits of coming to Prescott. “As we continue to grow, we’ll be able shows major businesses that FedEx looked at to generate more passenger capability,” he said. the Prescott Airport area and found it attractive The land for the facility totals about 30 acres. for distribution operations in Arizona. “Major businesses are locating here,” he said. “This is a Commercial developer Kiernan West LLC, acquired the property from the City of Prescott terrific addition to the economy.” Mayor Goode said the impact of traffic from following a public bid process, and will develop FedEx will be minimal compared to the volume the facility on behalf of FedEx Ground. of traffic already on 89 and Pioneer Parkway. In 2021, the City of Prescott acquired a total He said water use will be minimal. “This is a of 115 acres of land, off Melville Road, as part great opportunity for Prescott and its citizens,” of the development agreement with Arizona he said. “The new facility will provide quality Eco Development, which was approved earlier jobs and will make Prescott a shipping and this year. logistics hub for the region.” QCBN Prescott City Manager Michael Lamar said in a news release that FedEx Ground will be the
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MARCH 2022 // Quad Cities Business News
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