October 7, 2009
FedEx celebrates new Bossier City center
By Bobbie J. Clark
bobbieclark@gannett.com
FedEx Ground's new $9.7 million distribution center in Bossier City is nearly three times bigger than its former home in Shreveport.
The extra space will allow up to 60 delivery vans to be loaded at one time, compared to 21 previously. The center also has more conveyor belt space, making loading and unloading more efficient, according to senior manager Vachon Henderson.
"We're running much more efficiently. There's no more double-handling packages."
The new facility has improved employee morale, especially considering FedEx is on the verge of its busiest time of year — the holiday season, Henderson added.
Although the center has been open since late July, an open house and ribbon cutting was held Tuesday to commemorate the opening.
The 63,019-square-foot facility at 4515 Marlena St. combines FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery operations under one roof.
It employs 69 employees and independent contractors who worked at the location at 500 Montgomery St. in Shreveport.
The center does not expect to hire more people even with the increase in space and capacity, said Roy Pittman, FedEx's managing director for the Gulf Coast. But "as volume dictates, we may add more employees."
The new facility is part of FedEx Ground's nationwide network expansion to boost daily package volume capacity and further enhance the speed and service capabilities of its network, a news release states.
Bossier City economic development officials have been working on the deal since last fall.
The availability of the land and its proximity to Interstate 220 were major factors in wooing FedEx to Bossier City, said David Rocket, president of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. "This area has a lot to offer expanding businesses."
Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker said anything that brings jobs to Bossier City is a good thing. "This shows FedEx has confidence in our region. FedEx is a well-known company that provides a well-known service."
