Online giant narrows list of options for second headquarters
And then there were 20.
Amazon has whittled down a vast list of 238 communities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico vying for the chance to host its second headquarters to 20 metro areas. The company plans to invest some $5 billion in the new facility, dubbed Amazon HQ2, which will accommodate as many as 50,000 employees. The many cities left out in the cold include Detroit; San Francisco; Cincinnati; Kansas City; Charlotte, North Carolina; Orlando; and Vancouver (Canada).
The finalists are Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto, Ontario; and Washington, D.C.
Amazon said it evaluated each of the proposals based on the criteria outlined in the RFP to create the list of finalists, which will now move to the next phase of the process. This includes a deeper dive into their proposals, requests additional information, and Amazon’s evaluation of the feasibility of a future partnership that can accommodate the company’s hiring plans, as well as benefit its employees and the local community, according to the e-retailer.
“Thank you to all 238 communities that submitted proposals. Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough – all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon Public Policy. “Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation.”
Upon announcing the new headquarters, Amazon said that executives would have the option to choose where to base their teams — in HQ2, Seattle, or split between both locations.
In addition to Amazon’s direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of Amazon HQ2 is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community, according to the company.
Amazon still expects to make a decision in 2018, the company reported.
Amazon has whittled down a vast list of 238 communities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico vying for the chance to host its second headquarters to 20 metro areas. The company plans to invest some $5 billion in the new facility, dubbed Amazon HQ2, which will accommodate as many as 50,000 employees. The many cities left out in the cold include Detroit; San Francisco; Cincinnati; Kansas City; Charlotte, North Carolina; Orlando; and Vancouver (Canada).
The finalists are Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto, Ontario; and Washington, D.C.
Amazon said it evaluated each of the proposals based on the criteria outlined in the RFP to create the list of finalists, which will now move to the next phase of the process. This includes a deeper dive into their proposals, requests additional information, and Amazon’s evaluation of the feasibility of a future partnership that can accommodate the company’s hiring plans, as well as benefit its employees and the local community, according to the e-retailer.
“Thank you to all 238 communities that submitted proposals. Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough – all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon Public Policy. “Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation.”
Upon announcing the new headquarters, Amazon said that executives would have the option to choose where to base their teams — in HQ2, Seattle, or split between both locations.
In addition to Amazon’s direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of Amazon HQ2 is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community, according to the company.
Amazon still expects to make a decision in 2018, the company reported.