The Nation Courts Amazon for HQ2

**Mazderati** · 10-17-2017, 11:24 AM

Cities are foaming at the mouth to land Amazon's HQ2. Which city is selected? Billions of dollars in incentives are being offered. Are they reasonable? No doubt HQ2 will be an economic boon with good jobs for the area that lands it. How many of those jobs filled from a local pool of applicants?

Moody's top ten:

Austin
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Rochester
Pittsburgh
NYC
Miami
Portland (OR)
Boston
SLC

**BmillsSkier** · 10-17-2017, 11:39 AM

Personally I think Atlanta fits the bill for everything they’ve been asking in a target city.

And it gives ATL the extra 50,000 workers and their associated 200,000 friends, family and other hangers-on that the city has been clamoring for.

In all seriousness I’ve been following along with this story for a while and one city has an interesting carrot to dangle that the others don’t, and surprisingly it’s Cleveland. Their council or county govt (can’t temember which) is saying they should offer up Burke Lakefront Airport for the HQ2 campus. 450 acres of the most prime lakefront property directly on the light and heavy rail lines, highway, and walking distance to downtown, not to mention the prime backdrop and views.

The city has been trying to figure out what to do with it as the lakefront has been developed on all sides around it. This would be one hell of a poker chip.

As a former Amazon Web Services exec told me recently, the trend isn’t to get everyone closer to the tech (SV) its to get closer to the customer. Well, you can’t get much more central to the customer than in the Great Lakes Region.

It’ll be fun to see how all this shakes out.

**Gcooker** · 10-17-2017, 11:42 AM

You're forgetting Vancouver and Toronto. They aren't just eyeing the US.
Vancouver is too close to Seattle and too expensive. Toronto fits the bill perfectly.

**wooley12** · 10-17-2017, 11:42 AM

If they move to a state with an income tax I'll be surprised.

**doebedoe** · 10-17-2017, 11:47 AM

I'm having a hard time seeing Austin or Rochester due to lack of immediate international airport access. High level people don't want to have to hop a flight to Dallas/Houston or Toronto to get places. Portland strikes me as too close to current HQ to attract workforce that they can't get in Seattle. NYC is likely out (and likely Boston too) as Amazon has explicitly said they want a lower cost of doing business (living costs, expected wages etc) than Seattle.

Family member who works on national-level biz recruitment deals like this says that most people in her circles see Atlanta as the most likely spot. Denver's also on the list -- NYT's explains why: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...arters-be.html

**hatchgreenchile** · 10-17-2017, 11:47 AM

Denver is a front runner too, but they should go east or south. Austin needs more shitty traffic , build it there

**PNWbrit** · 10-17-2017, 11:48 AM

**Timberridge** · 10-17-2017, 12:13 PM

I'm surprised Londonderry, VT is not on that list.

**stompinlines** · 10-17-2017, 12:18 PM

I thought Minneapolis was a good choice. Then I remembered this is home to Target.

**DBdude** · 10-17-2017, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mazderati

Cities are foaming at the mouth to land Amazon's HQ2. Which city is selected? Billions of dollars in incentives are being offered. Are they reasonable? No doubt HQ2 will be an economic boon with good jobs for the area that lands it. How many of those jobs filled from a local pool of applicants?

Moody's top ten:

Austin
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Rochester
Pittsburgh
NYC
Miami
Portland (OR)
Boston
SLC

rochester...oye

**Skistack** · 10-17-2017, 12:22 PM

Clearly Gary, Indiana is the front runner.

City motto - No longer the murder capital of America!

www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/09/21/how-poor-decaying-gary-indiana-is-fighting-to-win-amazons-heart/?utm_term=.9c3482f7281e

**highangle** · 10-17-2017, 12:28 PM

ATL is biggest logistical hub S of NYC. Possibly relevant.

**JimmyCarter** · 10-17-2017, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by highangle

ATL is biggest logistical hub S of NYC. Possibly relevant.

Memphis?

**Viva** · 10-17-2017, 12:41 PM

They should look into San Juan. Pleanty of cheap land, ample wind power, and most of the Puerto Ricans have moved away.

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**summit** · 10-17-2017, 12:41 PM

I vote not Denver

**Marshall Tucker** · 10-17-2017, 01:00 PM

Jesus christ on crutches. Bmills I expect better of ya.

atlanta IS NOT courting Amazon HQ2.

DUNWOODY is. DUNWOODY.

We got state farm. pretty soon, buckhead'll be a dayam dunwoody suburb (however the fuck suburb its spelled).

Get yer facts straight.
DUNWOODY

**The AD** · 10-17-2017, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

They should look into San Juan. Pleanty of cheap land, ample wind power, and most of the Puerto Ricans have moved away.

True, but maybe you haven't heard: Puerto Rico is surrounded by big water. Ocean water.

I'd be sort of surprised if the HQ2 selection is west of the Mississippi.

**Vt-Freeheel** · 10-17-2017, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mazderati

Moody's top ten:

Austin
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Rochester
Pittsburgh
NYC
Miami
Portland (OR)
Boston
SLC

So many shitholes in this list that I would die a slow death in. Glad I am not a candidate for hire.

**PNWbrit** · 10-17-2017, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Vt-Freeheel

Glad I am not a candidate for hire.

You're not from Mumbai?

But it would alter your perspective of the shitholeness of list if you were.

**AK47bp** · 10-17-2017, 01:39 PM

Anyone know why the average (non Amazon employee) family would want an Amazon HQ in their community?

Serious question.

**BmillsSkier** · 10-17-2017, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by MARSHALL TUCKER

Jesus christ on crutches. Bmills I expect better of ya.

atlanta IS NOT courting Amazon HQ2.

DUNWOODY is. DUNWOODY.

We got state farm. pretty soon, buckhead'll be a dayam dunwoody suburb (however the fuck suburb its spelled).

Get yer facts straight.
DUNWOODY

Well, I was going to add to my original comment that I’m so damned glad I live ITP and never have to use the highway, cause this is about to make it all that much more enjoyable.

Yeah, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Smy-nings and points north are crushing it these days bringing in national HQ’s like Mercedes Benz last year.

If they were smart Amazon would scoop up some comparatively cheaper land closer to Latoya Jackson Intergalactic Soaceport and Nail Emporium like Porsche did for their new NA HQ.

Then again you’d never see anyone from middle management in the office because they’d be in traffic 6 hours a day retreating back to the northern suburbs.

**PNWbrit** · 10-17-2017, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by AK47bp

Anyone know why the average (non Amazon employee) family would want an Amazon HQ in their community?

Serious question.

Depends on your community.

But I guess if you were, let's say ....a construction worker in Pittsburgh the idea might have some appeal?

But yes development and growth for it's own sake does seem to be a vanity project for local politicians.

**Skistack** · 10-17-2017, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by AK47bp

Anyone know why the average (non Amazon employee) family would want an Amazon HQ in their community?

Serious question.

Drive up the property values so they can cash out and move to Mountain Town USA.

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**dunfree** · 10-17-2017, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Skistack

Drive up the property values so they can cash out and move to Mountain Town USA.

where they will complain there are no jobs for real working folks, and court companys to move to Mountain Town USA to bring employment for they and their friends (if the cash out wasn't big enough for a trust fund).

the places that could really use it (Cleveland, Twin Cities) probably won't get it. they are going to need some growing local companys to stop the brain drain to the west.