Local governments mum on Amazon bids

State and local governments have been more than happy to play up the amenities they think make their locations the best choice for Amazon’s second headquarters.

But many of them will not disclose the tax breaks or other financial incentives they are offering the online giant.

More than 15 states and cities, including Chicago, Cleveland and Las Vegas, refused requests from The Associated Press to detail the promises they made to try to lure the company.

Among the reasons given — such information is a “trade secret” and disclosing it would put them at a competitive disadvantage.

“We want to be in the best possible position to negotiate. We don’t want the whole world to know our strategy,” Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island said in a radio interview.

Amazon’s search for a second headquarters city has triggered an unprecedented competition among governments around North America to attract a US$5 billion project that promises to create 50,000 jobs.

The retailing behemoth has made clear that tax breaks and grants will be a big factor in its decision.

It received 238 proposals and said it will announce a decision sometime this year.