Amazon's push to hire up to 1,000 people to staff its first large-scale distribution center in Michigan got off to a solid start last week.

Applications for the unskilled, full-time positions in the Livonia warehouse - with a starting wage of $12.75 per hour - opened August 15.

So far, Amazon "is very satisfied with the pace and volume of applications they are receiving," said Greg Pitoniak, CEO of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance. The nonprofit is one of 16 Michigan Works! offices providing workforce development.

"They had several thousand applications and they're still coming in at a steady flow," Pitoniak said.

The warehouse openings followed the application process for so-called Tier 3 jobs, or the supervisory and technical jobs that will be housed at the under-construction distribution center.

"They closed those postings after 10 days," Pitoniak said. "They had over 5,000 applicants for those positions, which are not a significant percentage of the jobs in this Livonia facility."

SEMCA set up several assistance sessions for potential job-seekers who wanted to apply to the world's third-largest retailer. It is only accepting online applications, so SEMCA is providing computers and assistance with resumes.

So far, about 750 people received assistance with Amazon applications through Michigan Works! offices, Pitoniak said.

Amazon is already setting up interviews as it sorts through potential employees. Most applicants will receive some communication from the company within 48 hours.

"They will be scheduling interviews through the end of September," Pitoniak said.

Amazon announced the Livonia "sortation center" in late 2016, after the Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded up to $7.5 million in incentives. The first stage requires Amazon to hire 350 new employees by the end of 2018, making it eligible for a $2.625 million performance grant from the state. That's equivalent to the wages of about 99 warehouse workers' annual salary, if paid the advertised $12.75 per hour.

The distribution center is just over 1 million square feet, and it's located in an industrial area near I-275, I-96 and M-14. The construction value is $35 million, according to building permits. The full investment could reach $90 million, Amazon officials said early this year.

Amazon is on a distribution center building spree as sales grew by 25 percent in the second quarter, coming in at $38 billion at the end of June. It is building 29 new centers across the U.S., and a second 'sortation center' is planned in Romulus.

Meanwhile, Amazon is still taking applications. And Michigan Works! offices are still available to help potential employees prepare resumes or work with the online process.

For information on the Michigan Works! SEMCA office, call 800-285-9675, or check it out online.