Walmart is opening its third distribution warehouse in Mississippi this spring, which the mega chain says is part of its plan to grow its supply chain in the South and stay on pace with the online shopping boom.
Walmart is spending about $90 million on the new 1-million-square-foot Olive Branch warehouse. Walmart says the new warehouse will bring 250 new jobs to DeSoto County. The new complex will house millions of items, according to Walmart, and ship them directly to shoppers.
“Northwest Mississippi is an ideal location for companies with extensive shipping needs, like Walmart,” said Laura Hipp, Mississippi Development Authority interim director. “The region offers an abundance of transportation options as well as a dedicated workforce.”
The warehouse is still under construction. DeSoto County and Olive Branch have offered partial property tax exemptions to Walmart. DeSoto County says Walmart has yet to put in an application to cash in on that incentive.
Walmart will also likely receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash rebates back from the state through Advantage Jobs Rebate Program over the next decade. The program allows companies to get back part of their investment in exchange for job creation. Walmart agreed to create a minimum of 202 jobs with annual salaries of at least $39,659 as part of the program.
“Hundreds of employees from our area teaming with Walmart to successfully operate this new fulfillment center speaks volumes about Olive Branch’s workforce potential and amenities,” said Ken Adams, the city’s mayor.
Walmart operates 86 retail stores and more than 25,000 workers in Mississippi. The company is hiring for salaried positions now at the new warehouse, according to its website.
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