Autozone distribution center coming to New Kent

New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors put the final mechanisms in place to help bring a major distribution center to not only the county, but the east coast.

County leaders voted unanimously to approve a SPF development agreement with Autozone during Wednesday morning action at its monthly work session.

Announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 18, the Autozone Distribution Center will be a major hub for distribution along the east coast. Located on Emmaus Church Road (Route 106) between the current Pilot and the eastbound ramp of Interstate 64, the $185.2 million project will bring an 800,000 square foot building and create 352 jobs.

New Kent Director of Economic Development Matthew Smolnik told county supervisors that the project will be a slow roll, as the build is expected to take at least two years. If all continues to go as scheduled, Smolnik commented that groundbreaking will take place by the end of Spring or early Summer of this year, with the expectation that the facility will open during the first quarter of 2025.