New Jersey cities tout unique offerings in bid for Amazon HQ

TRENTON » Communities across New Jersey and the nation have spent the last few months developing proposals on why they should be selected as the site of Amazon’s second headquarters, hoping to reap the financial benefits it would provide.

But they also made sure to tout the nonfinancial and unique benefits that could make them stand out among the competition.

They cited access to skilled workers, proximity to worldclass universities and educational institutions, mass transportation and entertainment options. They also noted their closeness to New York and Philadelphia, as well as the international airports that service the region, along with housing opportunities and diverse communities.

Analysts say the choice for New Jersey basically came down to four cities — Camden, Jersey City, New Brunswick and Newark.

And in the end, the state backed its biggest city.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Newark’s bid on Monday, saying the state and the city are planning nearly $7 billion in tax breaks .

Aisha Glover, president of the Newark Community Economic Development Corp., notes that Newark Liberty International Airport is a FedEx hub and also includes daily non-stop service to Seattle. She also points out the city’s large seaport, major highways and commuter trains.

There’s also are many developable parcels where housing can be built in the city’s downtown area. of a great American city that is already rapidly moving forward.”

Glover cites “diversity,” along with a series of downtown redevelopment efforts that have led to groundbreaking for new commercial and residential developments over the last decade. other applications from New Jersey will be made by Thursday’s deadline.

Jersey City had noted its sites along the waterfront and easy access to New York City, while New Brunswick draws on its connection to Rutgers University’s main campus.

Camden Mayor Dana Redd also notes Camden has attracted “other forward thinking industry leaders” including Subaru, Holtec and American Water. She also says the city has the assets needed to support Amazon, noting its location “is second to none” in terms of distribution and logistics.