Could Newark be the new home for Amazon’s second headquarters? It’s possible.
The online mega retailer announced Newark was one of 20 finalists being considered as a potential location for their HQ2. Newark was chosen from a pool of hundreds of cities across North America. Amazon said in an announcement Thursday their selections were based on several parameters, including a large population, available tech talent and a strong business community. Amazon will make its decision this year.
Though other New Jersey locations were encouraged to apply, Newark was the only bid endorsed by the state. Former governor Chris Christie said in October he believed Newark’s proximity to New York City, the Newark Liberty International Airport and several major highways made the city an ideal location for Amazon’s operations. To sweeten the deal, the city and the state have offered Amazon approximately $7 billion in potential tax incentives. The second headquarters is estimated to bring up to 50,000 jobs and $5 billion in spending to the host city.
In a statement Thursday, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the city is, “the perfect destination for Amazon because of [its] incredible business assets and resources, and the fact that it is a place where Amazon could have a tremendous social and economic impact…This moment provides an opportunity for Amazon to show that a company can do good in the world and also do well as a company.”
Other finalists selected include New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Austin, Miami and Toronto.