Amazon announced last year, that it was looking for a location to build its second North American headquarters. Since that announcement, officials in many cities have been pulling out all of the stops to get Amazon to their city. Today, the online retailer announced that it has narrowed the list down to 20 potential cities for HQ2. These cities include 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; Northern Virginia, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Raleigh, NC; Toronto, ON; and Washington, DC.
This second headquarters is going to be a big deal for Amazon, and the city that it decides to launch it in. Amazon’s HQ2 will be a complete headquarters for the online retailer, and not a satellite office, like many had though it might be. Amazon has planned to invest over $5 billion in this new headquarters, which would accommodate up to 50,000 high-paying jobs. And of course, the construction of the new HQ2 would create tens of thousands of new jobs, as well as “tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community.”
Many cities were looking forward to getting Amazon’s HQ2, but there are also some downsides to getting Amazon’s new headquarters. Some of the issues that those living in Seattle are facing now, could and likely will, make their way to the city that HQ2 is in. That includes a burst in population which could drive up the cost of living. It would also drive up the cost of housing and most likely cause more traffic congestion – especially if Los Angeles, New York City or Washington DC gets HQ2, as those cities are already really congested. But many city officials are more excited to have the 50,000 jobs that come with HQ2, and who could blame them. Amazon already employs over 540,000 people around the world. Between their headquarters, satellite offices and distribution centers. And that number is only rising, as Amazon gets larger and larger. Amazon has not mentioned when it will decide on the city that will get HQ2, but they are getting closer to deciding.