The highlighted section of the White Oak Business Park at the Appling-Harlem exit on Interstate 20 will house an Amazon distribution center, officials announced Monday. [SPECIAL] ▲ An Amazon employee works with robot-controlled equipment at a distribution center in this company-provided image. [SPECIAL] ▲

Amazon distribution center will be built off Interstate 20 in Columbia County.

America's biggest online retailer is making a major brick-and-mortar investment in Columbia County.

State officials today announced Amazon will build an 800-employee distribution center off Interstate 20 in Columbia County's White Oak Business Park.

"Amazon's continued investments in Georgia are a testament to all that our state can offer, including the logistics and top-notch workforce needed for their growing global business," Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. "I could not be more proud to welcome them to the Central Savannah River Area, and I am excited for the hardworking Georgians who will benefit from this new operation."

The Seattle-based e-commerce giant's 600,000-square-foot facility will occupy the southern section of the 300-acre park on a street called Discovery Drive. The multi-level distribution center is already under construction and is expected to open in late 2021.

The park's other tenant, the massive Club Car warehouse and distribution center that opened in 2019, is on the main entryway.

What the project represented as a capital investment was not disclosed. Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan said the announcement represented "the single-largest project announcement ever in Columbia County, both for job creation and capital investment."

"We are thankful and excited to welcome Amazon and the jobs they are bringing to our community and White Oak Business Park at I-20," Duncan said.

Amazon said it has more than 75 fulfillment centers and more than 125,000 full-time employees. It says median pay at its fulfillment centers averages 30% higher than employees' pay in "traditional retail stores."

The company said fulfillment employees can earn $15 an hour, with an extra $2 an hour more through May 16.

"If you like a fast-paced, physical position that gets you up and moving, then come help bring orders to life," the company says on its website. "Work a set, full-time schedule. Shift options include overnight and days, and usually at least one weekend day."

Amazon's next nearest fulfillment center is in West Columbia, S.C. The company also has several centers in metro Atlanta, including a facility in Gwinnett County that is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

The company created its eighth-generation fulfillment center in 2014, which features cutting-edge technology and robotics.

Amazon said employees at the Appling location will work alongside Amazon's innovative robotics technology to pick, pack and ship smaller customer orders, such as books toys, and small household goods.

The county-owned White Oak Business Park is on the north side of I-20 Exit 183 on Appling-Harlem Road, also known as U.S. Highway 221. The interchange is undergoing an $8.5 million reconstruction that will replace the bridge, add two roundabouts and relocate Nature's Way 700 feet north by summer 2022.

The new bridge will feature two 12-foot lanes, a 12-foot inside median and 8-foot shoulders. The roundabouts are expected to remove conflict points for industrial freight and everyday drivers.

Amazon has invested more than $3.6 billion in Georgia through its local fulfillment center and cloud infrastructure, research facilities and compensation to thousands of employees since 2010.

Amazon's investments in Georgia contributed an additional $1.2 billion into the economy, and using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the company estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 5,000 indirect jobs on top of Amazon's 3,500 direct hires.

"This is exciting news for our state, and we thank Amazon for their continued investment in Georgia," Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said in a statement. "Especially now, during COVID-19, we are proud of our team's hard work to continuously meet the needs of world-renowned companies like Amazon. We are also grateful for our economic development partners in Columbia County and the region, who again have shown their strong commitment throughout this project."