Amazon looking for a location to have a 2nd HQ

[Rusty]

Je suis tres décus Megafolie ... mes emotions sont tres fortes en ce moment

[IluvMTL]

https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/01/omg-amazon/550763/?utm_source=SFFB

Amazon Whittles Down List of HQ2 Contenders to 20 Finalists

1. SARAH HOLDER

 10:01 AM ET

The list skews toward larger cities and metropolitan areas along the Eastern corridor, stretching as far north as Toronto and as far south as Miami. And it looks like some of the economic incentives might be paying off.

We’re one step closer to finding out where Amazon’s coveted HQ2 will call home. The company has whittled down the list of 238 cities to 20, it announced Thursday morning. The list of finalists skews toward larger cities and metropolitan areas along the Eastern corridor, stretching as far north as Toronto and as far south as Miami. Below, the finalists:

 

• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Boston, MA
• Chicago, IL
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• Indianapolis, IN
• Los Angeles, CA
• Miami, FL
• Montgomery County, MD
• Nashville, TN
• Newark, NJ
• New York City, NY
• Northern Virginia, VA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Raleigh, NC
• Toronto, ON
• Washington, D.C.

Amazon first announced the continental search for a new headquarters in October, setting off one of the most competitive and watched bidding races amongst cities and states to lure the job-creator. While many bid processes have been secret, Amazon has made a public event of its selection process, creating one of the most pervasive PR campaigns in recent history.

Cities large and small began drafting their bids, releasing viral YouTube videos, arguing their individual merits to the press. For the economic support and reputation boost afforded by Amazon’s global brand, many cities were willing to put it all on the line.

Some of the most aggressive bids that were publicly known seem to have paid off: Newark, New Jersey was able to offer up to $7 billion in tax breaks, after the state voted to give away $5 billion and the city threw in $2 billion of its own. Illinois’ state law allows Chicago to funnel $1.32 billion of Amazon employees’ income taxes back to Amazon itself; and D.C.’s list, released yesterday, hints at large personal property tax deductions, and covered corporate franchise tax exemptions.

But a number of finalists made the cut without offering out-of-the-ordinary subsidies: New York, Boston, and Toronto, did not explicitly advertise enormous financial deals in their bids. For these urban centers, prime location, a talented workforce, and major airports were likely key. But while these dense metro areas have tech, talent, and transportation; high housing costs and the question of where to put 8.1 million square feet of real estate in a densely packed urban center might be prohibitive. And while Amazon doesn’t claim to be a benevolent benefactor, a city like New York doesn’t need the investment as much as a city like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh might.

 

Cities that have long been considered mid-size favorites have also, not surprisingly, risen to the top: Atlanta is home of the busiest airport in the country, full of cheap housing, and its university system is thriving; Austin hosts the headquarters of Jeff Bezos’ recent acquisition, Whole Foods, and might give Amazon political legs in a red state; and Denver gets major quality of life points (think hiking and breweries) and already hosts a growing start-up scene. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both made the list, which will perhaps pit the two Pennsylvania cities against each other; while Amazon has dubbed Northern Virginia a regional finalist, without bothering to split the area up into county-sized chunks.

Building off the success of their first headquarters in Seattle, Amazon hoped to find a second location that would become a site for innovation and economic prosperity. 50,000 jobs, $5 billion in investment, and 8.1 million square foot in property would follow them into one lucky city, Amazon promised.

All cities had to provide was an itemized list of qualifications, in response to criteria listed in Amazon’s Request for Proposals. The company wanted international connectivity, strong educational centers, diversity, space—and special economic incentives.

“Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough – all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon Public Policy, in a statement Thursday.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more updates.

[fmfranck]

Montréal et le gouvernement du Québec mettent présentement beaucoup d'efforts à faire en sorte que Montréal soit un environnement bouillonnant pour les startups en IA. Pour être honnête, l'arrivée d'Amazon aurait été un obstacle majeur au maintient de l'écosystème particulier de Montréal en la matière. 

Je ne dis pas que l'arrivée d'Amazon aurait été entièrement mauvaise, mais elle n'aurait pas été entièrement bonne non plus. Ce qui est sûr, c'est que l'analyse doit être portée plus loin que "Montreal is bad because they dont offer the fiscal incentives needed for a mega corporation to move here(and saturate a sector that is currently booming in Montréal) ". 

Modifié 18 janvier 2018 par fmfranck

[vivreenrégion]

Montréal comme plusieurs villes en Amérique du Nord ont de la difficulté à recruter car toutes ces villes s'arrachent les meilleurs employés. Amazon va encore plus nuire à la ville qui va l'accueillir en vidant la place des meilleurs. C'est pour cette raison que je crois qu'Amazon va choisir une ville moins IT oriented. Ils vont aussi préférer une ville ''chaude'' avec des hiver sans neige.

[fmfranck]

il y a 2 minutes, vivreenrégion a dit :

Ils vont aussi préférer une ville ''chaude'' avec des hiver sans neige.

Pourquoi? S'ils comptent avoir un data center dans leur nouveau HQ, une ville "froide" serait plus avantageuse, non?

[fmfranck]

il y a 1 minute, mark_ac a dit :

Saturation? This is the small minded stuff that bothers me.

Amazon would be an accelerator. It would force thousands of people to move to Montreal globally, open new small businesses to support this growth, and bring Montreal into the global conversation. Look at Silicon Valley - is this saturation? 

I'm starting to firm up my view that Montreal will never get out of its cycle of mediocrity, small-consolation prize type mentality.

If Toronto wins Amazon - Montreal will further be set back. 

Sorry Mark, but you're going on my ignore list. Enough is enough. 

[nephersir7]

il y a 8 minutes, fmfranck a dit :

Pourquoi? S'ils comptent avoir un data center dans leur nouveau HQ, une ville "froide" serait plus avantageuse, non?

Pourquoi auraient-ils besoin d'un data center majeur à même leur HQ? 

[UniDerp]

il y a 3 minutes, fmfranck a dit :

Sorry Mark, but you're going on my ignore list. Enough is enough. 

Forgot about the ignore list! I will be doing the same, most of his comments are him complaining about how shitty Montreal has become.

Low effort and generally untrue.

[vivreenrégion]

il y a 10 minutes, fmfranck a dit :

Pourquoi? S'ils comptent avoir un data center dans leur nouveau HQ, une ville "froide" serait plus avantageuse, non?

Avoir Amazon n'apporte pas seulement du positif. Plusieurs compagnies ne pourront offrir le même salaire et vont perdre des employés, ça pourrait forcer la compagnie à déménager dans une ville avec un pool plus grand. Ca va faire augmenter le prix des loyers et tu vas avoir plein de gens qui vont devoir quitter le centre-ville et alentours, ça pourrait nuire aux autres domaines dans le même secteurs.

[andre md]

9 minutes ago, mark_ac said:

Saturation? This is the small minded stuff that bothers me.

Amazon would be an accelerator. It would force thousands of people to move to Montreal globally, open new small businesses to support this growth, and bring Montreal into the global conversation. Look at Silicon Valley - is this saturation? 

I'm starting to firm up my view that Montreal will never get out of its cycle of mediocrity, small-consolation prize type mentality.

If Toronto wins Amazon - Montreal will further be set back. 

Toronto la plus meilleur ville du monde yessss.

7 minutes ago, nephersir7 said:

Pourquoi auraient-ils besoin d'un data center majeur à même leur HQ? 

Amazon  a deja un aws center a Baie D'Urfé si je ne me trompe.