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Amazon (AMZN, Financials) is putting serious money behind a simple idea: small towns deserve fast delivery, too. The company said Wednesday it's investing $4 billion to expand its rural delivery systembringing jobs and speed to areas often left behind.
Amazon said the expansion will help deliver over a billion more packages each year across rural ZIP codesfrom North Pole, Alaska, to Milton, Florida. Customers in these areas can expect delivery times to drop by up to 50%.
More than 100,000 roles are expectedmany through flexible programs like Amazon Flex and Delivery Service Partners. From local florists to part-time drivers, the effort is designed to create work where people already live. Amazon deliveries are a lifeline, said a nurse in Ohio who helps elderly patients rely on home shipments.
While some delivery companies scale back in rural areas, Amazon is leaning in. The company says its presence has helped lift incomes and cut poverty in many communities. One mayor called the local Amazon station a game-changer.
Amazon reports earnings May 1. Investors will watch how this big rural push plays into the company's broader logistics and cost strategy.
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