Amazon wants to open a $5 billion second HQ in North America

[IronLionZion]

http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/07/technology/amazon-second-headquarters/index.html

Amazon has announced plans to open a second headquarters in North America that will employ as many as 50,000 workers.
The company announced Thursday that it is searching for a city to host the new "HQ2" facility, which will cost at least $5 billion to construct and operate.

"We expect HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters," said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. "Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We're excited to find a second home."

Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) said it would prefer to open the headquarters in a suburban or urban area with more than 1 million people. It's looking for a community that "thinks big."

The company said that while it would hire teams and executives for the new location, employees who currently work in Seattle would be offered the chance to relocate.

Cities and regional economic development organizations have been invited to submit proposals.
The company's headquarters in Seattle boasts 33 buildings and 24 restaurants or cafes. It covers 8.1 million square feet.

Hmm...think they'll choose a city that needs jobs like Detroit or Baltimore? Or a city that could use some Hurricane rebuilding like Houston? If they go to Mexico or Canada, I would blame Trump. Vancouver would just be too funny.

[dalton99a]

1. The tax breaks will be huge

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. Yep. This hugely profitable company wants to see which municipality they can squeeze the most

[IronLionZion]

2. They hosted America's largest job fair last month to fill 50,000 jobs

mostly in warehouses in places like Chattanooga and Baltimore. But also Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois and Indiana.

[joeybee12]

3. Vancouver would make sense if they wanted to increase their international presence. Nt

[crazycatlady]

10. Or they could do the other Vancouver

But it's not a major city. Close to one though.

[joeybee12]

14. True, very close to Portland

It would make traffic there even worse, though

[crazycatlady]

15. Yeah traffic there's really bad

(I lived there last year for a campaign and am determined to go back).


Amazon has a great opportunity here to revitalize a Rust Belt city. Also a dead mall would be a good place to put HQ2.

[joeybee12]

16. I was there in July. It was awful

Al through the Pacific Northwest I-5 corridor has become impossible

[IronLionZion]

18. They have a worldwide presence and already have an office in Vancouver

I thought it would be funny because it's so close to Seattle yet outside of Trump's economic reach

[joeybee12]

22. Mexico City!

That would send trump into a tailspin

[haveahart]

4. Maybe they will do the right thing and give more than they take?

I don't think it would be wise to build in flood-prone or fire-prone areas. That would attract more development in disaster areas. The country can't afford that. It would seem to me that "coal country" would be a prime target for the possible benefits; but then, any business to succeed would need a sober, dependable, well trained workforce. Location could also turn a red state blue for the future. Lots of things to think about.

[Glorfindel]

6. It sounds like a perfect fit for Atlanta - definitely a community that "thinks big"

n/t

[CurtEastPoint]

7. As an Atlantan, I just posed this on FB saying the same thing: we have the biggest airport,

other transportation, the space, the workforce. Huge win.

[Glorfindel]

11. Absolutely! Plus it would give Amazon a northwest-to-southeast axis

Seattle to Atlanta. If I were 40 years younger, I'd be looking forward to applying for a job.

[CurtEastPoint]

12. Yes, the location on this coast. Perfect, I would think. And yes, me, too! Hell, I might do it

anyway if it comes about!

[CurtEastPoint]

13. Georgia has granted tax credits to the film industry and it has paid off BIG TIME here. Same idea..

I know that some places give the store away but to lure something that big?

[muntrv]

8. Amazon is opening a warehouse in Livonia, MI. It is a suburb of Detroit.

[LonePirate]

9. Atlanta, Dallas and Denver seem like the most probable choices.

These cities have plenty of land, are ascendant/growing and have a large, educated and young workforce. I'm not sure cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit or St. Louis have a chance even if they offer massive tax abatements.

[unc70]

17. Areas like Raleigh-Durham also in mix

Everyone and his brother is chasing this opportunity. Looking at Amazon's requirements, it doesn't look likely for anywhere depressed. Quality of life, availability of professional work force, infrastructure (highways, air, high speed communications), land, etc.

Looks like it will go somewhere already doing well, already with nonstop flights to Seattle.

[nolabear]

19. I'd go to Atlanta. The FedEx hub is there.

Southern, urban, not in hurricane, earthquake or tornado zones. Other corner. They'd save a mint on transportation costs.

[HAB911]

20. They will choose a city willing to make us pay for the privilege

Republican Communism

[IronLionZion]

21. Here are the cities that meet the criteria for Amazons second headquarters

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/here-are-the-cities-that-meet-the-criteria-for-amazons-second-headquarters-2017-09-07

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Denver, New York, Provo, Raleigh, Tampa and Washington DC

The case for DC would be the fact that Amazon has been increasing their government cloud services and it is a very competitive market. They have an office here that is expected to grow. Baltimore is nearby, has a large fulfillment center, and needs jobs.

Other cities might have cheaper land, labor, and have money to bribe them with tax breaks. They like to place their data centers in areas with cheap electricity but it doesn't have to be near their headquarters. Most lists I've seen include Atlanta and Austin.

[bathroommonkey76]

23. Bezos will choose a blue state. n/t

[IronLionZion]

24. Cities already want to host Amazon's second headquarters

http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/07/technology/amazon-second-headquarters-cities/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

Chicago, Toronto, Dallas, Boston, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Detroit have shown interest. Let's see how badly they want it. This is so exciting