Amazon is expanding rapidly in Ohio: 7 things that happened in October

Here’s seven updates that happened with Amazon in October:

1. Project Big Daddy: How Monroe landed Amazon’s next fulfillment center

Hefty tax credits and months of strategic negotiations helped solidify Amazon's decision to build its next fulfillment center in Monroe — a plan local officials and developers referred to as Project Big Daddy. Public records obtained by this news organization answers the question that state and local officials across the country want to know: Just how did Monroe lure online giant Amazon? The company confirmed last month its plans to open a fourth Ohio fulfillment center that will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs in the Warren County portion of Monroe. READ MORE HERE

2. Amazon to build another fulfillment center in Ohio

The online retailer announced plans to open its fifth Ohio fulfillment center in Euclid, which will create more than 1,000 full-time positions. The company also recently announced upcoming fulfillment centers in Monroe and North Randall, and it currently operates fulfillment centers in Etna and Obetz. LEARN MORE

3. Amazon’s growing presence in Southwest Ohio: What’s really going on?

Online giant Amazon is expanding rapidly in Southwest Ohio with a new fulfillment center set to open in Monroe — and Dayton and Cincinnati officials want the company to have an even bigger presence in the region. LEARN MORE

4. Not at home? Amazon wants to come in and drop off packages

Don’t want Amazon boxes sitting on the porch? The company hopes you’ll let a stranger inside to drop them off.

Amazon said Wednesday it'll launch a service called Amazon Key next month that will let people allow the door to be unlocked when they're not there so packages can be left inside. READ MORE HERE

5. Amazon could enter drug distribution trade: Ohio not among states, yet

Amazon has been picking up licenses around the U.S. to be a wholesale pharmaceutical distributor. The Seattle-based giant that's been rapidly branching beyond its e-commerce business and into other industries and it now could be setting the stage to enter the pharmacy wholesale business. READ ON

6. UD, WSU, Sinclair and Clark State pledge to partner with Amazon

Four local colleges and universities have pledged to partner with Amazon as part of a regional effort to try to convince the company to build its second headquarters in southwest Ohio, according to documents obtained by the Dayton Daily News. READ MORE HERE

7. Dayton, Cincy team up to lure Amazon’s $5B headquarters

Dayton's and Cincinnati's applications to Amazon will emphasize the "uber region" that sits between the two cities and how how the combined Dayton-Cincinnati area is the 15th largest region in the United States, said Shelley Dickstein, Dayton city manager. READ MORE

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