A delegation from Amazon has been visiting contending cities of its second world headquarters, according to GeekWire. Following visits in Washington, D.C. and Dallas, officials will the world’s leading online retailer are expected to visit sites in Atlanta.
The headquarters, projected to be built for $5 billion, is expected to bring as many as 50,000 jobs to the Atlanta market over the next decade. And the jobs aren’t the average end-of-the-line jobs, but employment that averages $100,000 a year.
“Officials from Amazon.com toured sites in Washington, Montgomery County, Md., and Northern Virginia last week — the latest sign that the tech giant is seriously considering adding a second headquarters with as many as 50,000 jobs to the D.C. area, according to officials in all three jurisdictions,” writes The Post’s Jonathan O’Connell.
Atlanta officials are keen on Amazon also because of the ancillary effects the headquarters could bring to the city, including Amazon suppliers and other tech companies looking to work with the world’s largest online retailer.
Last month, Atlanta made the short list of cities in the running for HQ2 as the project is called.
“Let’s be honest with ourselves: This is the largest economic development deal in the history of America,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told the AJC. “It would require action by the Legislature if we are successful. And I’m very optimistic that we can land Amazon in the state, and we’re in great position to do that.”
The Inc. quoted Jeremy Bodenhamer, who runs a $13 million shipping and logistics firm,: “We believe they will select Atlanta,”he was quoted as saying. He cited the area’s deep well of tech talent as well as the region’s reputation as harboring people with top logistical knowledge (UPS as well as Lockheed is based here) a top reason.