Broome County continues to battle a high unemployment rate. But there's good news on the way, as  Dick's Sporting Goods recently announced they'd be bringing their first ever eCommerce Fulfillment center to their existing distribution center in Conklin. Vince Briga explains what it could mean for the local economy.

CONKLIN, N.Y. -- Dick's Sporting Goods continues to bring hope to the community they once called home.

On Wednesday, the company announced it would be bringing its first ever eCommerce fulfillment center to the existing distribution center in Conklin.

The combination of the two will create a nearly one million square foot facility.

"This is a great opportunity for residents here, particularly in the Conklin area. Dick's Sporting Goods is a great employer and we're super happy that they've chosen to make this investment in our community," said Sara Liu, Broome-Tioga Workforce Executive Director.

Of course with the announcement of such a large facility, comes the announcement of more jobs.

In the next five years, the Conklin facility will create 500 new jobs, most of them being full time.

Currently, the distribution center already has more than 200 employees.

"It's great to have a job and earn a paycheck, but it's a job that people are going to love to come to everyday just because of this wonderful facility and certainly these are jobs that people will want to come to the community. They'll want to come and buy a home here and work here," said Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive.

Officials say with the unemployment rate hovering between 5 and 6% in Broome County, job availability is no longer the issue. The need now shifts to training.

"There's been a real emphasis on folks entering four year colleges, which is wonderful, but we have a lot of job openings here in the county that don’t require a college education but we don’t have the people to fill them just simply because they don’t have the skills required,” said Liu.

Conklin is one of just five of the company's distribution centers across the nation.

"They're coming back and reinvesting even more in Broome County and I certainly think that's a story people like to hear," said Garnar.

Adding yet another chapter to a 70 year history with the region

There is currently no timetable on when construction will begin on the eCommerce center.

The distribution center opened in its doors in January.