Amazon plans $5B investment, 50,000 jobs in search for 2nd HQ

Economic developers around the U.S. got an early wakeup call Thursday for one huge project.

Seattle-based Amazon is launching a search for a second headquarters site, promising to invest more than $5 billion and create as many as 50,000 “high-paying jobs.”

How big is this project? Consider this: Research Triangle Park, home to 200 companies, employs 50,000 people. And a spokesperson for the Research Triangle Foundation, which oversees the Park, says a response to Amazon is already underway.

The Triangle and North Carolina could be contenders for the project, based on Amazon’s requirements.

“I think the Triangle region will be at the top of their list,” NCSU Economist Dr. Michael Walden told WRAL TechWire. “We have the space, an existing strong tech sector, and a continuing supply of educated workers.”

The potential of the project also is impressive.

“If North Carolina lands the second Amazon HQ, I think it would be the single biggest economic development news in the state since the establishment of the RTP.,” he said.

The ecommerce giant is moving quickly, too. It wants proposals submitted by Oct. 19. Amazon says a site announcement will be made in 2018.

Expect a big response. A project of such scale is likely to set off an avalanche of responses from developers across the country.

WRAL TechWire reached out to the N.C. Department of Commerce, which recently helped Wake County land a 2,000 job expansion from tech firm Infosys, for comment about the Amazon project. It is “a bit too early to be able to answer any of your questions since we just saw this news this morning,” a spokesperson said via email.

Site requirements: What Amazon is looking for.
RTP & Amazon matchup: RTP is tailor-made fit for Amazon HQ2 requirements
Economist: Triangle should be at top of Amazon list
RTP Foundation reacts: Proposal already in the works.

“Amazon HQ2 will be Amazon’s second headquarters in North America. We expect to invest over $5 billion in construction and grow this second headquarters to include as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs – it will be a full equal to our current campus in Seattle,” the ecommerce giant announced at its website.

“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 Amazon, its current headquarters contributes $38 billion to the local economy. More than 40,000 people are employed in Seattle across 33 buildings.

Amazon says it is making the search process public in order to attract bids.

“We want to find a city that is excited to work with us and where our customers, employees, and the community can all benefit,” the company explained.

Project details and information are available at:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/?node=17044620011

Q&A: Why a second headquarters?

Here is a Q&A Amazon posted about the project:

What is Amazon HQ2?

Amazon HQ2 will be the second Amazon headquarters in North America. We are looking for a location with strong local and regional talent—particularly in software development and related fields—as well as a stable and business-friendly environment to continue hiring and innovating on behalf of our customers.

I am a city/regional economic development organization representative and would like my city to be considered for this investment. What do I need to do?

Please contact our team at amazonhq2@amazon.com to get started. You can view the Request For Proposal (RFP) document here. We encourage cities to think big and be creative.

What will be the benefits for the city finally selected to host your second headquarters?

We expect to invest over $5 billion in construction and grow our second headquarters location to be a full equal to Amazon’s current campus in Seattle, creating as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. In addition to Amazon’s direct hiring and investment, construction and 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.

Amazon estimates its investments in Seattle from 2010 through 2016 resulted in an additional $38 billion to the city’s economy – every dollar invested by Amazon in Seattle generated an additional $1.40 for the city’s economy overall.