Amazon closed its Midway Road fulfillment center in Port St. Lucie on Thursday for a two-year renovation after laying off hundreds of workers, but the company now plans to invest $200 million in the facility and reopen it in the second half of 2028 with more than 1,000 jobs. The company had filed notice with the state in July that 494 employees would be separated, with separations effective September 17 and December 17. Around 300 workers have taken severance packages.
Amazon plans to use the $200 million investment to renovate and expand the facility with advanced robotics and artificial intelligence capabilities, along with an additional 870,000 square feet. Workers who were employed at the facility before the closure will be eligible for rehire when it reopens. The closure is not expected to impact customers because operations will be handled by other facilities during the renovation.
Local workforce organizations, including CareerSource Research Coast and the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, have spent recent months holding job fairs and helping affected workers connect with other employers. St. Lucie County Commissioner Cathy Townsend said the closure highlights the importance of attracting a wider range of businesses to the county and that her focus would be more on small businesses. The renovation is expected to last until at least 2028.