Twenty years ago the Yakima Valley celebrated the opening of Walmart Distribution #7021, an 800,000-square-foot grocery fulfillment center that employed 400 hourly associates and served 42 stores in three states.
Today, the Distribution Center (DC) employs 764 hourly associates, 61 salaried managers, and delivers product fulfillment to 120 Walmart stores across five different states. In the last fiscal year, DC #7021 processed 238 million cases of goods.
Here is a look at the economic impact the distribution center has had for all of Yakima County over the last twenty years (in today’s dollars):
- $65 million capital expenditure
- $1.4 billion in employee payroll
- $84 million in state and local taxes
- Supports 1,096 households, a local population of 3,327, and $1.2 billion in household spending
- Directly and indirectly supports 1,882 jobs within Yakima County
- $3.2 billion in total value economic impact
The economic impact benefitting our communities throughout Yakima County is undeniably immense.
Gary Christensen of Grandview, who was personally involved in the recruitment effort recalls, “I can’t begin to thank YCDA and all the community leaders that worked tirelessly to bring this opportunity to our community. Without their dedication and combined support Walmart may not have selected Grandview for the site of their new distribution center.”
