Illinois residents can expect to receive their packages faster in the near future. An Amazon distribution center is set to break ground near the intersection of Bissell Road and Dirksen Parkway.

Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance President, Ryan McCrady, told me this new center will be 71,000- square-feet and will provide 100 guaranteed jobs.

“It’s our understanding that this will be a last mile distribution center,” McCrady said. “So, what that means is when a product leaves this center it goes to its final destination.”

In October, Springfield city council members voted to move forward with building the Amazon distribution center, which at the time was known as “Project Capitol.”

McCrady said placing this center in Springfield will have big advantages.

“What’s called market reach,” McCrady said. “So, you can reach almost one- third of the country's population in a one-day legal truck drive from Springfield. That’s actually more than you can reach from Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City or Nashville.”

Project Capitol Developer, Ryan Companies Incorporated, will place this new development in Ward 4 of Springfield.

Ward 4 Alderman, Larry Rockford, said this center will create more opportunities for the community and state as a whole.

“Anytime you can add jobs in the city and surrounding communities, I think it’s a good thing,” Rockford said. “You’re going to get a lot more traffic, more trucking... I think it’s long overdue for Springfield being in between Chicago and St. Louis.”

McCrady added post high school training will qualify many individuals for employment.

“Once you're inside the industry of warehousing distribution supply chain management, what you’ll find is a complete career path,” McCrady said. “So, supply chain and logistics has become a more important cost factor for businesses.”

McCrady said construction on the center has started, but there is no tentative date on when it will open. The opening will depend on the severity of the winter season.