State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

The Winners and Losers in Retail's Growing Divide

Governing: Americans do more and more of their shopping online, places like Plainfield, Ind., are reaping the benefits. The town of 30,000 people, less than 20 miles from Indianapolis, has attracted two Amazon fulfillment centers along with e-commerce facilities for Walmart and Kohl’s. Meanwhile, UPS recently announced plans to expand its footprint there. Given the close proximity to a major airport and multiple interstates, it’s understandable why big online retailers like Plainfield so much. It and surrounding Hendricks County gained 6,500 retail-sector jobs over the past decade, the most of any county in Indiana. “In the last five years, things have been taking off,” says Andrew Klinger, the town’s manager. “We’re seeing spec building after spec building come up.”

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