From WTXL.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – Could Amazon find a second home in Tallahassee? The Capital City is one of more than 200 cities and regions in North America vying for the attention of the business giant.
Amazon says it’s looking to invest $5 billion in construction and provide up to 50,000 jobs to add a second headquarters in North America.
The City of Tallahassee will compete with applicants from around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
This is an effort by the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality which says the region has been strategic in attracting innovative companies like amazon before. The OEV applied to be in the running before the October 19 deadline.
Amazon has received 238 proposals from 54 states, provinces, districts and territories around the continent.
The OEV was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce says it fully supports the local bid to bring Amazon here, even if the odds aren’t likely.
Not everyone is on board with bringing Amazon here. Domi Station’s director said on Facebook he couldn’t “get behind this use of energy, effort and resources.”
Here’s a look at some of the competition: New York City lit up landmarks like the Empire State Building in the “Amazon orange” color. Tucson, Arizona sent amazon’s CEO a giant cactus, and the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri wrote five-star reviews for a thousand random items on Amazon.com.
WTXL reached out to Amazon, which said it can’t comment on any particular applicant.
The governor’s press office and Enterprise Florida both tell us the Sunshine State should be considered the front-runner for Amazon’s new headquarters.