WINDSOR -- After a rounds of layoffs and protests this week, Gov. Dannel Malloy welcomed lighter press coverage at the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Windsor.
A tax break agreement led to the 1 million-square-foot facility, which has been in operation since June 2015. Malloy took a tour with area leaders on Thursday.
"The state of Connecticut has been a wonderful champion for us," said Eric Powell, general manager of the new facility.
The high-tech hub is Amazon's first robotic-driven fulfillment center in New England.
"When you click buy on Amazon.com...a signal is sent to our robot that finds the most efficient path to get to our pickers," said Powell on the tour.
There are 800 full-time associates working in the building, including Anabelle DeJesus, a former cake decorator.
"I made a switch because it was better pay and better benefits and I thought it would be a good opportunity to work for such a great company," said DeJesus, 21.
DeJesus is one of those packers. She receives a product from a robot, scans it, packages it and labels it. Another robot then takes the item to a sorting area, and then it's out the door.
Joseph Cruz mans one of the bigger machines at Amazon: a forklift.
"I was working security for several different companies and I found that I wanted to try something new," said Cruz.
Online shoppers around the world might now receive their purchase from Connecticut -- business news that Amazon exes and the governor are proud to share.
"We must be doing something right," said Malloy.
Employees, especially DeJesus and Cruz, are happy the company chose to invest in Connecticut.
"Everybody's all smiles and the workplace environment is friendly and I love it," said Cruz.
Amazon operates a second, smaller facility in Wallingford. According to Amazon's website, the Wallingford location is hiring.