Detroit-Windsor bid for Amazon HQ2 just a ‘sentimental choice,’ says CNBC
As online retail giant Amazon mulls where to locate its HQ2 — a US$5-billion investment expected to create as many as 50,000 jobs — the speculation and assessments by media continue.
And unfortunately, Detroit-Windsor’s joint bid is not among the ones being talked about favourably.
NOT QUITE THERE YET
CNBC’s analysis of the bids for HQ2 put Detroit-Windsor in the same category as Chicago and Pittsburgh as “some of the more sentimental choices” for Amazon.
These choices “may have a tougher go of things,” wrote special correspondent and investigative journalist Scott Cohn. While Cohn rated Detroit an A+ in terms of population size, he handed the location D+ marks in terms of stability and talent — resulting in an overall grade of C+.
“The local economy has improved considerably since the city’s 2013 bankruptcy, but it is not quite there yet,” Cohn wrote.
Cohn was much more positive about bids from the American South. The cities that received the highest grades in CNBC’s ranking were: Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Austin, Texas; and Atlanta, Ga.
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Atlanta’s bid was also highlighted by the demographic experts at Sperling ’s BestPlaces.
“Trust us — it’s going to be Atlanta,” stated the website in its meta-ranking of 64 possible locations for Amazon HQ2.
According to Bert Sperling, the experts are “clearly favouring Atlanta,” with at least six of the most reputable media rankings putting the capital of Georgia at the top of their lists.
As for Detroit? Much further down the meta-ranking at No. 22.
THE MOST EXCITING CITY IN AMERICA?
But Amazon is doing more than just number-crunching to make its ultimate decision.
Cultural community fit is mentioned as a key preference and decision driver in the request for proposals regarding HQ2.
So perhaps perspectives like that of New York Times contributor Reif Larsen will make a difference. In a recent long-form piece entitled Detroit: The Most Exciting City in America?, Larsen praised the community and gave recognition to Detroit developer Dan Gilbert.
“In Detroit, the future is still being written. Time and time again I felt giddy with possibilities, informed in large part by the innovators I was talking to,” Larsen reflected.
During a “Slow Roll” group bike excursion across Detroit, Larsen noted that “across the glassy Detroit River, we could see the lowslung skyline of Windsor, Ontario.”
“In Detroit — that fair city rising from the night sky — all dreams are possible.”
Amazon is currently reviewing 238 proposals for the location of HQ2. A date for the decision has yet to be announced, but Amazon has said it will happen in 2018.