E-COMMERCE giant Amazon is planning to make an investment of more than US$100 million in Lakeland 60 miles east of Tampa and the city is ready to approve the deal
E-COMMERCE giant Amazon is planning to make an investment of more than US$100 million in Lakeland 60 miles east of Tampa and the city is ready to approve the deal. Director of Lakeland Linder International Airport, Gene Conrad, asked city commissioners to approve a deal with Amazon to construct a 285,000-square foot air cargo complex at their recent, stressing that it will bring 800 to 1,000 jobs to the area. 'This is a game changer for the airport,' he said.
Mr Conrad said Amazon first contacted him and city manager Tony Delgado in December 2017 about coming to the airport.
The 20-year deal will allow Amazon to lease 47.2 acres to construct a seven-jet cargo hangar, with an option to later expand on an adjoining 62 acres. The company will pay the city about $80,000 a month, with an option to renew the lease three times at 10 years each, for a total of 50 years.
Amazon also would pay the airport 85 cents per 1,000 pounds of cargo landed at the airport, and a three-cent surcharge per gallon of fuel.
The city of Lakeland, Polk County and Florida Department of Transportation will contribute to pay for the upgrades at Lakeland Linder International Airport and incentives to close the deal with Amazon.
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