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Amazon looking to open second HQ office. Does YYC have a chance?

Surrealplaces

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https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-...ties-are-well-positioned-to-land-amazons-hq2/

From the article
Amazon—the world’s largest online retailer and fourth largest company as measured by market capitalization—is solicitingNorth American regions in a competitive selection process for a second corporate headquarters, or HQ2.

In the world of economic development—of which business attraction is a core function—bringing an Amazon headquarters to town is a huge deal, likely the most significant corporate decision in recent memory.
 
The article suggests these are the top contenders. I don't believe half of those cities are even contention, and there are some that could be in contention that aren't on the graphic (Raleigh, Charlotte, Columbus)

I guess we'll see. Either way, this could get really interesting.

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Calgary is probably too small. But different foreign work policies plus a cool housing market and proximity to Seattle could help. The eventual footprint would be massive, like 4 or 5 WestJet sized staff footprints. The only larger employer in the province would be Alberta Health Services. 1 company being that sized of an employer in a metro could make things hard, at potentially 50,000 eventually out of 915,000 (at least we have a history of growth, so it might not handicap us as much as lets say, Pittsburg.
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I'm kind of thinking the same thing. Calgary might be a bit on the small side, but we do have some things going for us. A large skilled labour pool for sure....and one that has people available now. Calgary is seen as progressive and clean with low crime compared to many American counterparts, and quite outdoorsy for a non coastal city. Lots of office space would normally be a plus, but I suspect they want something more campus styled, and will build.

I have a feeling they will go with a mid sized progressive US city....my guesses would be Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Austin, or Minnie. All of those are fairly large cities with multiple head offices, educated workforce, and reasonably priced housing, and they're all out of earthquake/hurricane zones. . Kind of less expensive versions of Seattle.
 
The USA metros with labour force's larger or close to Calgary's, with the ones you brought up in bold:
New York-Newark-Jersey City 10,153,341
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 6,685,853
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 4,958,300
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 3,772,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 3,426,136
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 3,323,431
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach 3,148,279
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 3,120,965
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell 3,035,683
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua 2,748,818
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward 2,539,877
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale 2,301,416
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 2,085,871
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 2,052,794
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington 2,001,817

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 1,990,199
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood 1,599,413
San Diego-Carlsbad 1,563,014
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 1,527,721
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson 1,518,826
St. Louis(2) 1,469,746
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro 1,312,456
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 1,306,614
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 1,305,323
Pittsburgh 1,218,930
San Antonio-New Braunfels 1,154,036
Kansas City 1,139,209
Austin-Round Rock 1,134,194
Cincinnati 1,130,382
Columbus 1,078,538
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade 1,073,232
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise 1,061,707
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson 1,059,792
Cleveland-Elyria 1,056,355
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 1,053,352
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin 1,006,690
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News 853,792
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis 840,116
 
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This whole process will be interesting indeed. There will be lots of competition for this, and lots of tax breaks and other stuff going on. Hopefully Amazon picks a city based on merit and not just the best tax incentive.


I think you’re right SP, it’ll probably end up being a mid sized city with an educated work force. I could also see Toronto as a contender except for the price of housing. There will be the lots of profferings from the rust belt cities with big incentives and ultra cheap housing (Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc..), but in the end I bet Amazon will go for a more progressive city like the ones you mentioned, due to the image of it, and the educated workers. You could probabky add Columbus, Raleigh, Denver, Boston and Dallas to the mix.
 
Interesting....so we're not too far off from Charlotte or Austin.

The USA metros with labour force's larger or close to Calgary's, with the ones you brought up in bold:
New York-Newark-Jersey City 10,153,341
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 6,685,853
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 4,958,300
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 3,772,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 3,426,136
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 3,323,431
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach 3,148,279
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 3,120,965
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell 3,035,683
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua 2,748,818
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward 2,539,877
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale 2,301,416
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 2,085,871
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 2,052,794
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington 2,001,817

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 1,990,199
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood 1,599,413
San Diego-Carlsbad 1,563,014
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 1,527,721
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson 1,518,826
St. Louis(2) 1,469,746
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro 1,312,456
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 1,306,614
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 1,305,323
Pittsburgh 1,218,930
San Antonio-New Braunfels 1,154,036
Kansas City 1,139,209
Austin-Round Rock 1,134,194
Cincinnati 1,130,382
Columbus 1,078,538
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade 1,073,232
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise 1,061,707
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson 1,059,792
Cleveland-Elyria 1,056,355
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 1,053,352
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin 1,006,690
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News 853,792
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis 840,116
 
Apparently Cincinnati is one of those north east cities coming at this with aggressive tax incentives. Montreal would be a city that I think could it, but I have a feeling the French language has all but ruled them out. I never thought about Dallas, but I can see them as having a shot at this.

This whole process will be interesting indeed. There will be lots of competition for this, and lots of tax breaks and other stuff going on. Hopefully Amazon picks a city based on merit and not just the best tax incentive.


I think you’re right SP, it’ll probably end up being a mid sized city with an educated work force. I could also see Toronto as a contender except for the price of housing. There will be the lots of profferings from the rust belt cities with big incentives and ultra cheap housing (Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc..), but in the end I bet Amazon will go for a more progressive city like the ones you mentioned, due to the image of it, and the educated workers. You could probabky add Columbus, Raleigh, Denver, Boston and Dallas to the mix.
 
Educated workforce will make a difference, but keep in mind with U.S. cities, any city can draw on millions of educated workers from across the country. Canada can do that too, but has a much smaller pool. In the U.S. even if your city doesn't have as large a skilled workforce as the next city, you can change it in a hurry. I like Dallas, Denver and Atlanta for their pick. All three have what the other cities have, but also large, well connected airports.
 
The feds already have committed to two week visa turn arounds for tech workers. That includes more than just americans. The tax advantages could be huge too, letting the company hold more offshore until the USA has better double taxation rules.
 
Good point about th
The feds already have committed to two week visa turn arounds for tech workers. That includes more than just americans. The tax advantages could be huge too, letting the company hold more offshore until the USA has better double taxation rules.
RE: visa turn around time, that's good to know. I also forgot about Trumps ban on Muslims. Forget about skilled labour pool across the country, we have the whole world to choose from :)
 
Considering the fact that the US already has a headquarters and hence has nearly everything that amazon has to offer, I don't see them opening the second in the US. I feel like for the Canada would be a better option considering the fact that they may want to open it in Canada simply because of the benefits it could have towards Canadian consumers using amazon and their go-to source for online shopping. Also cheap office space, that too...
 
There's a side of me that thinks this is all about corporate culture and diversity, etc.. and it could very well end up in Canada. We do have plenty of virtues, and for the most part would be a good fit. Then there's the other side of me that thinks in the end it will come down to dollars, and tax incentives, which will probably anywhere in Canada out.

Office space could be a good lure, but I have a feeling they would go for the campus type environment. Maybe it's time for them to change that.
 
Wow, that would be quite a boost to Calgary's economy. Would Calgary even be in the discussion? 50K is *a lot* of jobs. I'm not sure Calgary could supply that many that quickly.
 
It appears to be some sort of bidding process, so technically Calgary is in the running, but the chances if getting it are probably slim. Don't get me wrong, Calgary could do it and would be a good candidate, but this will be highly competitive.
The monetary incentives will be out of control by the time this comes to an end.
 

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