Amazon is in the market for a second home, and the city of San Diego wants in.
The tech giant, which has built its base through digital sales, is looking to expand beyond its Seattle headquarters. Other cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York have also expressed interest in having the company build its new headquarters in their cities. Amazon is looking at cities with populations higher than one million, an already-set tech workforce, and a business-friendly work environment, the San Diego Tribune reports.
“We expect HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters,” Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos told the Tribune. “Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We’re excited to find a second home.”
This new headquarters will potentially employ 50,000 people and provide a major economic boost to any city it joins. San Diego city officials confirmed earlier this month that they’d submit a proposal by the Oct. 19 deadline for Amazon’s $5 billion headquarters. San Diego might just be a perfect place for the company to create a nest. It’s already home to a number of qualified employees, especially its MBA graduates.
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“San Diego has the geographic proximity to international markets, unparalleled quality of life, and workforce talent that companies like Amazon are looking for, so Mayor (Kevin) Faulconer’s office has directed the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. to coordinate a regional response,” said Matt Awbrey, Faulconer’s Deputy Chief of Staff, in a statement, to the Tribune.
The city has property available downtown and is hopeful that Amazon will decide to make this city is next stop. However, it remains to be seen if the company wants to extend beyond its already-existent West Coast presence. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.