Gov. Rick Scott presents a medal to Air Force Veteran James Register, who is a floor manager at the new Walmart eCommerce Fulfillment Center in Polk County. [ Walmart handout photo ]
DAVENPORT — A new Walmart e-commerce fulfillment center that opened Tuesday is bringing more than 1,500 jobs to this northern Polk County area.
Walmart’s 50-acre warehouse will hold millions of products to fill online orders and speed delivery. The expansion is a part of Walmart’s national push to remain competitive in the growing e-commerce business. In first quarter of this year, the company saw 63 percent growth in the U.S. e-commerce sales with strong “organic growth” in Walmart.com.
The Davenport-site has hired 550 associates so far with plans to hire at least 1,000 more over the next year. The retail giant employs over 107,000 people statewide.
The company also plans to open nine new stores across the state — adding 800 new jobs — and spend millions remodeling more than 40 other locations.
At the grand opening, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation presented several local nonprofits with financial gifts: $2,500 to Give Kids the World, $3,500 to CareerSource Polk and $2,500 to Ridge Community High School JROTC.
