Senator John Thune discusses tariffs at Box Elder Amazon facility ribbon cutting

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Amazon users in the Black Hills area may have noticed their packages being delivered quicker. It may be due to the new Amazon Delivery Station in Box Elder.

The station, one of three in the state and the only West River, opened last October and is the last stop for a package before it is dropped off at your door.

“The delivery station is providing our customers with a much better experience,” said Nick Cunningham, WSD2 site leader. “We’re able to get packages much more safely to our customers as well in a better quality in a shorter time frame.”

When packages arrive for the sort center, they are unloaded at the dock before being scanned and having stickers placed to tell employees how they should be sorted. From there, packages are stowed before being placed on a van ready for delivery.

“We are typically sending out around 60 delivery vans similar to what you see behind me, and then we also have independent contractors which we call Amazon flex drivers,” Cunningham said. “We’re typically sending out about 10 to 40 of those individual cars per day as well. ”

The 40,000-square-foot station sends anywhere from eight to 10,000 items per day to communities in Belle Fourche, Hot Springs, Rapid City and Box Elder.

The most common items to come into the facility are car seats, bed frames, automotive parts and accessories as well as personal beauty items.

Wednesday morning, Box Elder Mayor Larry Larson, Attorney General Marty Jackley and Senate Majority Leader John Thune joined Cunningham for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the one millionth package coming through the station.

“It just enhances I think what is already a great place to work and to live and raise families so we welcome companies like Amazon that want to come to South Dakota,” said Thune. “I’m delighted to be here for the ribbon cutting and to congratulate Box Elder the community, the employees, the team that works here for what I hope will be a very lasting partnership between this area and the folks at Amazon.”

Following the ceremony, Thune was asked about potential concerns of tariffs impacting facilities like the one in Box Elder.

“You know, we’re obviously watching that issue carefully as the conversation around tariffs continues,” Thune said. “I have my own views on tariffs, but I do think that what the president and his team are trying to achieve is, we need to give them some time to do that. If they can get better trading relationships with countries around the world, some of which have been taking advantage of the United States, that’s a good thing.“

As of January 2024, South Dakota Amazon facilities have created 1,500 full and part-time jobs as well as providing an additional platform for 600 independent sellers to distribute their goods and services.

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