Amazon shortlists 20 cities for its second HQ

WASHINGTON: Amazon said it had narrowed to 20 its options for a second headquarters for the sprawling technology and lifestyle company headed by Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest individual.

After 238 cities from North America submitted bids, Amazon announced yesterday that its shortlist included three in the vicinity of the US capital Washington, and the Canadian city of Toronto.

“Thank you to all 238 communities that sent proposals. Getting from 238 to 20 was tough – all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity,” said Holly Sullivan of Amazon Public Policy.

The new list included Washington – where Bezos has a house and owns the Washington Post newspaper – but also “northern Virginia” and Montgomery County, Maryland.

New York City was also on the list, as was Newark, New Jersey. Other cities in the northeast included Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Raleigh, North Carolina. From the southeast, Atlanta, Miami and Nashville, Tennessee made the cut.

Chicago, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio were the Midwestern cities on the list. Amazon also selected Denver, Los Angeles and two Texas cities – Dallas and Austin.

Based in Seattle, Amazon announced in October that it was looking for a second headquarters, dubbed HQ2, which would get an investment of US$5bil (RM19.7bil) and create at least 50,000 jobs.

A final selection is expected sometime this year.