Granville lands Amazon warehouse; 200 jobs

By Zander Frost, Chronicle Staff Writer

Amazon plans to convert idle former Manchester Wood building in Granville to a warehouse that will bring 200 or more jobs. It’s expected to open in May 2023, Village Mayor Paul Labas told The Chronicle Tuesday.

“It’s fantastic,” the mayor said. “I think it’s great growth that can bring in people and employees from surrounding areas. I think other businesses are probably going to tag on their shirttails.

“And it’s going to do nothing but create growth. What community doesn’t want that, especially a rural community?”

He told The Chronicle that Amazon did not ask for a tax break.

“There’s been no negotiation that I know of, anything like that,” he said. “They haven’t asked me for anything, I can tell you that,” he laughed.

As for Amazon pay rates, “I want to say was $23 to maybe $28” hourly, the mayor said off the top of his head, but cautioned he wasn’t certain of the numbers.

He said Amazon expects to open the facility in May 2023.

Mayor Labas said while the building is in the Town of Granville, the village will supply it with water and sewer.

“We extended it when they first built that plant when Manchester Wood was in there. And that was a big thing for them too, because they didn’t have to drill wells,” he said.

He said the Village’s collaboration with the Town and Supervisor Matthew Hicks works well. “I’m glad to see it come together as well as he is, I’m sure,” the Mayor said. Mr. Hicks could not be reached at press-time.

Mayor Labas lauded Amazon’s approach through the permitting process.

“Every ‘i’ was dotted, every ‘t’ was crossed and they were willing to work with both municipalities, the town and the village to help better the community,” he said.

“They’re building a fire department access road to the river so they can have better fire protection and also serve the community as well, so it’s just a win-win all the way around,” the mayor said.

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