How Amazon is investing in Tennessee

Key takeaways

Amazon has invested more than $30 billion in Tennessee and contributed over $35 billion to the state's economy.
The company has more than 25,000 full- and part-time employees and supports more than 20,000 indirect jobs.
Amazon partners with 11 educational institutions in Tennessee through its Career Choice program and has upskilled over 3,600 employees since 2019.
More than 68 million items were sold by Tennessee-based independent sellers through Amazon's store.
Amazon has created or preserved over 3,000 affordable homes in the Nashville region.

For more than 30 years, Amazon has been investing across the United States, strengthening local economies and creating opportunities for communities nationwide. Tennessee is a prime example of this commitment, with Amazon building a substantial presence in the state since 2015.

Amazon workers interact at one of the most automated warehouses in the world in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

Amazon's MQY1 in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, is one of the most automated warehouses in the world.

Today, Tennessee serves as a thriving innovation and logistics hub for Amazon, with investments spanning fulfillment centers to corporate offices and Whole Foods Market locations. The company's economic impact extends beyond direct employment, supporting thousands of additional jobs in construction, logistics, and professional services, and helping local businesses reach customers around the world.

Here are five ways Amazon is investing in Tennessee:

1. Investing in our employees

Amazon provides competitive wages and comprehensive benefits from Day 1. These benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance starting on Day 1, free mental health resources, up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave, a 401(k) with 50% company match, and flexible time-off options that increase with tenure.

Beyond more than 25,000 direct jobs, Amazon's presence in Tennessee supports more than 20,000 indirect jobs in industries such as construction, logistics, and professional services—suppliers and partners whom we rely on every day.

2. Supporting workforce development and upskilling

Amazon is committed to preparing its workforce for future opportunities through comprehensive education and skills training programs. Since 2019, more than 3,600 Tennessee employees have participated in these free initiatives.

An Amazon employee maintains machinery at the Mount Juliet MQY1 facility.

An Amazon employee maintains one of MQY's autonomous robots during their shift.

In Tennessee, Amazon partners with 11 educational institutions through its Career Choice program, which prepays tuition for employees pursuing further education. These partnerships with colleges and universities across the state help Amazon employees gain in-demand skills that can propel them into new careers.

From Machine Learning University to Career Choice, these programs represent Amazon's investment in developing talent and creating pathways to opportunity for its workforce.

3. Building infrastructure across the Volunteer State

Amazon has invested more than $30 billion in Tennessee's infrastructure and employee compensation, contributing more than $35 billion to the state's gross domestic product.

An Amazon robot moving items inside the MQY1 fulfillment center in Tennessee

One of Amazon's robotic systems at the MQY1 fulfillment center in Tennessee, part of the company's investment in advanced logistics infrastructure across the state.

These investments include 17 fulfillment and sortation centers, eight delivery stations, one rural delivery station, and other facilities across the state. The company has also expanded its retail footprint with eight Whole Foods Market locations across Tennessee.

4. Empowering Tennessee's small businesses

Amazon provides a powerful opportunity for Tennessee's entrepreneurs and small businesses to reach customers worldwide. Tennessee-based independent sellers—primarily small and medium-sized businesses—sold more than 68 million items through Amazon's store, with the average seller generating more than $450,000 in annual sales.

Be Amazing co-founders Mike Yewdell, Russell Saks, and Tarun Singh standing in front of shelves stocked with their nutritional supplement products

Be Amazing co-founders Mike Yewdell, Russell Saks, and Tarun Singh in front of their product line in a local store.

These independent sellers represent more than 60% of sales in Amazon's store. Their success contributes significantly to local economies, with more than 65% of U.S. independent sellers employing at least one person within 50 miles of their primary business location.

By providing infrastructure, logistics support, and access to millions of customers, Amazon enables Tennessee's small businesses to scale their operations and create additional jobs throughout the state.

5. Investing as a good neighbor

Amazon uses its global scale and strengths to make a positive impact in communities. Working with trusted community partners, we address critical needs—food security, education, disaster relief, and housing—using our logistics, technology, and innovation, while investing as a good neighbor in the communities where our employees live and work. In 2025, Amazon donated more than $10 million to more than 100 community organizations across Tennessee.

A speaker presents alongside donated food items at an event supporting Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee in Nashville.

Amazon has delivered more than 1 million meals on behalf of food banks and nonprofits across the state. The company has reached more than 50,000 students and more than 1,000 teachers through education programs and supported more than 400,000 computer science learning hours. More than 2,000 Amazon employees have volunteered in communities across Tennessee.

Working alongside local policymakers, developers, and community partners, Amazon has created or preserved over 3,000 affordable homes in the Nashville region, serving over 6,600 residents. With 85% of those homes within 10 minutes of transit, residents have easy access to their communities, jobs, schools, healthcare, groceries, and other essential amenities.

Amazon's $75 million commitment to create at least 800 affordable homes near WeGo Public Transit lines—Nashville's bus and rail system—ensures Nashvillians with low to moderate incomes can afford to live in the city center.

Read more about how Amazon is investing in Tennessee and the U.S.