Walmart’s largest e-commerce fulfillment center plans finalized for Hancock County facility

Friday, September 25, 2020 11:15 AM

HANCOCK COUNTY — Walmart announced Thursday that it has finalized plans to establish its largest e-commerce fulfillment center in the United States near Mt. Comfort.

The company, which has been reported to be behind considerations for the project for months, plans to build a 2.2-million square foot facility near the southwest corner of County Roads 500N and 500W. The site is north of Indianapolis Regional Airport and abuts McCordsville’s southern border. Walmart said in a news release from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) Thursday that the facility will create up to 1,000 jobs by the end of 2025.

According to real estate transfers recently recorded in the Hancock County Recorder’s Office, Walmart Fulfillment Services LLC bought more than 200 acres for the site for more than $9.8 million from Century Soil LP and Brock Farms Inc.

Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, will invest about $600 million to construct and equip the facility.

The facility will allow the company to expand e-commerce operations for its own online inventory and third-party fulfillment for vendors who hire Walmart to store, pack and ship items. Construction is slated to begin this month and the company expects to start operations in fall 2022 before reaching full operational capacity by spring 2024.

“We’re pleased to work with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation on this project and appreciate their support to help bring new development and jobs to central Indiana, which is a key market for Walmart,” said Steve Miller, Walmart senior vice president, fulfillment operations, in the news release. “We look forward to utilizing this fulfillment center to help meet increasing online shopping demands and ultimately serve our customers.”

The IEDC offered Walmart Fulfillment Services LLC up to $1.25 million in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans and up to $4.75 million in conditional tax credits from the Hoosier Business Investment tax credit program based on the company’s planned capital investment in Indiana, according to the news release. The tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once workers are hired and investments are made.

This summer, the Hancock County Council approved tax abatements for Walmart’s planned investments of $150 million in real estate and $456 million in personal property equipment. The county is committing to road improvements in the area as well. Duke Energy has also offered additional incentives, according to the news release.

“This is a major win for Hancock County and we’re very fortunate that the world’s largest retailer looked at Hancock County and said this is where we want to build our next-generation, state-of-the-art distribution center,” Randy Sorrell, executive director of the Hancock Economic Development Council, told the Daily Reporter. “That speaks well for the community, our leadership and the fact that we are a very business-friendly community.”

Bill Bolander, Hancock County Council president, agreed.

“We are very, very pleased that Walmart has found Hancock County, and the Mt. Comfort Road Corridor in particular, to be ideal for their operations,” he said in the release. “Both Hancock County and the Hancock Economic Development Council will continue to work with Walmart to ensure a smooth and successful launch and continuing operation of their facility with regard to workforce, infrastructure and overall economic development improvements within the county.”

© 2020 Daily Reporter
Mitchell Kirk, (Greenfield) Daily Reporter


HEDC’s Executive Director receives award

Skip Kuker, executive director of the Hancock County Economic Development Council, is

the recipient of the first “Nolan ‘Skip’ Kuker Community Leadership Award”, presented by the Fortville / McCordsville Area Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016.

“I am honored and humbled  by this recognition from my friends in Fortville/McCordsville,” Kuker said. “I love working for our community and look forward to meeting those in the future that are selected for such an honor.”

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Sharing Successes & Saying Thank You!

In the fall of 2016, the HEDC Celebrated the Successes of Hancock County. Eight businesses were recognized at our Celebration event, to say Thank You for choosing Hancock County! Plus, two new Indiana State Certified Sites were announced for Barr North and Barr South—which bring the total of certified sites in Hancock County to six.

This marks the 4th Annual Celebration we have come together as a community with business leaders, local elected officials, and other invited guests to say thank you.  In 2016 over $139 million in proposed investment and 876 proposed jobs are represented in the eight businesses: Brybelly; Celadon; County Materials; Foamcraft; Indiana Auto Fasteners; Landsberg; Photon; and Tsuda – bringing the four-year totals to over $519 million in proposed investment and over 2,800 proposed jobs!

Aqua Indiana, HEDC board of director member, sponsored the event held at the Tour of Italy restaurant in downtown Greenfield on September 22, 2016. And, NineStar Connect, also an HEDC board of director member, generously provided videographers to highlight the event.

(See videos following)

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McCordsville is booming

McCORDSVILLE — When Sheila Roberts settled on McCordsville as her home six years ago, she was thrilled to find an affordable house in a quiet community.

Much has changed since she moved in; McCordsville is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the area, a trend Roberts says has made it an even better place to live.

More families are moving to Hancock County, and the majority are landing along the western edge. Population growth across Hancock County is up 3 percent, which amounts to approximately 2,500 more residents than those recorded in the 2010 U.S. Census.

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New Commercial Development

McCordsville–The once-sleepy burg of McCordsville is undergoing a transformation that is expected to add a host of new commercial development to the Hancock County town.

Bordering Marion County to the east, McCordsville has seen its population climb the past decade from about 1,200 residents in 2005 to nearly 7,000 now.

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