Amazon to invest $100 million in Lakeland, bring in 1,000 jobs

LAKELAND — Amazon will invest $100 million on a new cargo center in Lakeland and create up to 1,000 jobs, according to city officials there.

The 285,000-square-foot air cargo complex will be built at Lakeland Linder International Airport, according to news reports. City commissioners approved the deal on Monday.

Lakeland officials say Amazon will lease 47.2 acres to build a seven-jet cargo hangar, with an option to later expand, and pay the city $80,651 a month for at least the next 20 years. Amazon would also pay the airport 85 cents per 1,000 pounds of cargo landed at the airport and a 3-cent surcharge per gallon of fuel.

The deal will include an option to renew the lease three times at 10 years each.

Lakeland city manager Tony Delgado told the Lakeland Ledger that he has been 'led to believe' that Amazon will gradually cease its cargo operations out of Tampa International Airport — where Amazon currently has a volume of seven to eight flights a day — by 2020.

The newest deal will add to Lakeland's Amazon presence, which already included a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center on County Line Road.

Contact Josh Fiallo at jfiallo@tampabay.com. Follow@ByJoshFiallo.