Ark Valley News - Mixed bag with online giant

Mixed bag with online giant
Last Updated: October 22, 2020

Amazon's confirmation that it is building a massive fulfillment center in the 7100 block of North Broadway may seem like all good news for Park City and north Sedgwick County.

The 1 million-square-foot facility could be up and operational in 2021. The online retail giant plans to hire 500 full-time employees.

Sure, the area could use an economic boost, especially in light of the pandemic and the aircraft industry taking a hit with a halt in the production of the 737 Max. The Amazon jobs won't replace the higher-paying aircraft positions, but they should help the area's economy.

The other half of the equation is the boost it will give local governments in the form of property taxes. The company has asked for no tax incentives, even though it is building a $55.5 million structure, and the total investment will be much higher when it equips the facility with state-of-the art sorting and delivery systems. The taxes Amazon pays will help spread the tax burden.

But that's just one side of the coin. We lament the detrimental impact huge corporations, such as Amazon, have on small retailers. Sure, Amazon has formed "partnerships" with thousands of small businesses across the country, including many in Kansas, who sell their products on the Amazon platform, but those small businesses have no choice but to agree to the company's partnership parameters. And they're not always in their best interest.

Amazon has created an entirely new segment of consumers, who demand products the next day at cheap prices. Small businesses can't compete.

We know the importance of locally owned businesses in our small towns.

While everyone sings its praises now, we'll let you know the first time Amazon helps the local booster club or baseball team.

— The News staff