SMITHFIELD – Amazon is reportedly looking at a location off Highway 70 Business West for a new warehouse and distribution facility in Johnston County. Johnston County Report has learned a new 650,000 square foot Amazon warehouse and distribution center could anchor the new West Smithfield Industrial Park. The park is located in the 2100 block of Highway 70 Business West near Barbour Road.
The Smithfield Town Council approved plans for the 258-acre industrial park in January 2021. During the meeting, Samet Corporation of Greensboro received approval to rezone six properties to Light Industrial Zoning for the future park site.
Johnston County and the Town of Smithfield have been working on and marketing the site since 2018. The site had previously been certified through the NC Commerce Department to attract industrial developers.
Sources indicate if Amazon does locate in Johnston County, it could be the first of several major companies to locate in the West Smithfield Industrial Park.
Amazon has reportedly not fully committed to the project but is in the final stages of investigating the potential new site.
In 2020, Amazon opened a 700,000 square foot distribution center in Garner. The distribution center employs 1,500 workers with industry leading pay at $15 an hour.
There is no information on how many jobs an Amazon fulfillment center in Smithfield could generate.
