ALCOA, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee's calendar appears to confirm it: Alcoa is getting a new Amazon distribution center on about 90 acres that's part of an old golf course.
Site work is underway at the location along Singleton Station Road.
Plans presented recently to the Alcoa Board of Commissioners outlined a 100-foot-tall, 634,812-square-foot building on approximately 89.49 acres east of Alcoa Highway. Authorities haven't said what company would occupy the building.
Hillwood Investment Properties has been developing the project. Hillwood has worked with Amazon on projects across the nation.
According to TDOT documents obtained by 10News, the value of the property and capital improvements for the expansion is around $187.5 million, and total cost for all road updates will be over $15 million.
Records state the new project will create 750 jobs with an annual payroll of $23.4 million, with about 200 trucks utilizing the facility each day
On Monday, Lee's office put out a notice that he is set Wednesday morning to make a virtual announcement about Amazon's "Project Pearl," a reference to the Alcoa project.
The state and Lee have in the past touted new Amazon projects in Tennessee. Developers on Amazon's behalf have a history of quietly proposing projects with code names like "Pearl," "Sam" and "Charm."
Pearl won Alcoa Municipal/Regional Planning Commission approval in October.
Renderings show Pearl has the markings, including a distinctive blue line, of an Amazon building.
State authorities haven't said.
"(Economic and Community Development) cannot comment on unannounced projects," Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development spokeswoman Molly Hair said last week.