Meadows: Development in city strong amid pandemic

Development in the city is staying strong amid the pandemic as a drive-thru car wash and an Amazon fulfillment center prepare to open their doors.

With the majority of the businesses having to at least restrict hours, services, and sometimes close altogether, the pandemic has taken its toll.

According to Bob Meadows, business development director, the city had begun focusing on attracting companies with unique assets, such as the rail yard that can help companies ship goods, as well as a state-of-the-art fiber optic network.

One of the newest additions is the Amazon Fulfillment Center that is going in at the Wonderful Logistics Park. This 1,000,000-square-foot facility will attract about 1,000 jobs for residents, ranging from sorting, packaging, shipping and management. Amazon is taking a "spec building" that is on the site and doing the renovations in time for a proposed November opening date.

In addition to Amazon, there are several other businesses coming to the city including a drive-thru car wash at the intersection of Central Avenue and Highway 43, the site of the former Brookside Deli and Shafter Press offices. This site was sold by the city to Rick Jhaj, whose family owns and operates the Taco Bell in Shafter. The car wash is expected to bring about 30 jobs and give the city its first drive-thru car wash.