State to public: Amazon pitch not for your eyes

PROVIDENCE (AP) — Rhode Island will not release its pitch for Amazon’s second headquarters, for competitive reasons, according to Gov. Gina Raimondo on Friday.

The state was one of many communities that made bids to the e-commerce giant on Thursday for the $5 billion project. Some, including neighboring Massachusetts, released their bids to the public, but Raimondo said that Rhode Island would not do the same, WPRO News reported.

“We want to be in the best possible position to negotiate. We don’t want the whole world to know our strategy,” she said. “We have a strong pitch, and I don’t need the whole world to know every detail.”

The Democratic governor

said the bid includes tax incentive programs that the state already offers. It also includes seven possible locations: Providence, Pawtucket-Central Falls, East Providence, Warwick, North Kingstown, Richmond and Woonsocket.

Raimondo said the state is a viable place for Amazon to locate its new headquarters and up to 50,000 workers, and said it would be a “gamechanger” for the state. But she did acknowledge that there could be challenges.

“If they want a big, big city like New York, then obviously, we’d be a long shot,” she said. “But if what they want is a place that’s affordable, a wonderful community, good place to do business, access to some of the best talent in the world, then I think we have a great shot.”