Amazon looks to tap local businesses for last mile delivery network
FinkAvenue
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is looking to build out a local business network across the U.S. in an effort to improve its "last mile" delivery capabilities. The Amazon Hub Delivery program is expected to start delivering packages by the end of the year, according to Axios.
Amazon (AMZN) aims to partner with 2,500 small business drivers by the end of the year. The e-commerce giant will target at least 20 large cities in the U.S., including Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Amazon (AMZN) is already starting to actively recruit existing small businesses in 23 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, and Washington.
The new Amazon (AMZN) program is being pitched as a way for local businesses to create opportunities for growing a business and supplementing revenue.
Separately, Amazon (AMZN) delivery drivers and dispatchers in Palmdale, California extended picket lines to a second warehouse in San Bernardino.
Shares of Amazon (AMZN) rose 0.22% in premarket action on Monday.
More on Amazon

Amazon: Still Formidable On Fundamentals
Amazon Q1 earnings call transcript
Growth metrics on Amazon
Relative strength index and moving averages
Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating for Amazon