Amazon Eyes Bessemer For Development

BESSEMER, AL - While Birmingham may have lost out on getting the new headquarters for Amazon, the area may have impressed the online retail giant enough to get a distribution center. Of Alabama's neighbors, Florida and Tennessee have five fulfillment centers, while Georgia has three.

According to a report by Alabama Media Group, Amazon's target site is U.S. Steel-owned property off Powder Plant Road near Bessemer City High School and Alabama Splash Adventure. The Jefferson County Commission last week vacated right of way for Old Powder Plant Road as requested by U.S. Steel to clear the title on the property and allow for its development. The ownership of the right-of-way had been transferred to the county from the Alabama Department of Transportation.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

Although there has been no official comment by Amazon, and local economic development leaders have been cryptic about it, calling it "Project Bluebird," sources have indicated the interested party is Amazon.

Birmingham's bid to land the second Amazon HQ fell short last fall, but not before the city's pitch to Amazon received some national attention for its innovative ad campaign. The campaign, created by Birmingham marketing firm Big Communications, was praised nationwide.

Image courtesy of Big Communications

Like the Birmingham Patch Facebook page for more local news.