Columbus among 20 Amazon HQ2 finalists
Most of the sites on the list are concentrated in the East and Midwest. The company will make its selection some time this year.
Amazon has chosen finalists for its second headquarters in North America, including one city in Ohio.
Amazon reviewed 238 proposals from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to be the home of its second headquarters in North America and narrowed it down to 20 states
Amazon expects to make a decision in 2018. Officials have praised Amazon’s decision to consider Columbus for its future headquarters.
“I am pleased to see that Amazon has selected Columbus as a finalist for its second headquarters. Columbus is a growing, thriving city and there is no doubt in my mind that it is the best choice among the announced finalists,” said U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said Amazon has not shared what the next steps are, but the city will continue to “compete hard” to secure the opportunity.
“Clearly, they see that Columbus has the skilled workforce, worldclass educational institutions, phenomenal infrastructure and culture of collaboration that helps businesses operate mission-critical facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” he said.
Amazon HQ2 will be a complete headquarters for Amazon, not a satellite office. The company plans to invest over $5 billion and grow this second headquarters to accommodate as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. 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.
Amazon already has a major presence in Ohio. In Ohio, Amazon has launched operations at two different fulfillment centers in Etna and Obetz, and also has Prime Now sites in Columbus and Valley View. In Etna — about 20 minutes east of Columbus — Amazon’s fulfillment facility has more than 3,000 fulltime employees who pick, pack and shop customer orders.
The massive facility is more than 1 million square feet — about the size of 28 football fields, and holds tens of millions of products with more than 14 miles of conveyor belts weaving throughout the building.
The building utilizes Amazon robotic technology, vision systems and almost 20 years worth of software and mechanical innovations to fulfill customer orders. Amazon has more than 80 fulfillment centers, and continues to grow.
Amazon confirmed last year that it will build another fulfillment center in Monroe that will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.39 percent, 10-year tax credit for the Amazon facility that is expected to create $26.7 million in new payroll and be a $30 million fixed-asset investment. As part of the tax credit agreement, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority says Amazon will have to maintain operations in Monroe for at least 13 years.
Amazon also announced plans to build a center in North Randall.