Los Angeles Is Finalist For Amazon's $5 Billion Headquarters

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles is among the 20 cities to be chosen as a finalist for Amazon's second headquarters after the company whittled down the the contenders from 238 applicant cities. Initially considered a dark horse candidate, Los Angeles is the only West Coast city to make the list.

Amazon set off a nationwide frenzy in September when it announced plans to spend $5 billion on a campus to serve as a second headquarters. For many, Los Angeles was seen as a long shot because Amazon is already headquartered on the West Coast in Seattle. Denver is the only other western city among the final 20. Amazon predicts its HQ2 will create 50,000 high-paying jobs in addition to supporting thousands of construction jobs and other support positions.

"Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough," Amazon officials said in a tweet. "All the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity."

Amazon officials estimate the company added $38 billion to the Seattle economy between 2010 and 2016, which is why hundreds of cities vied for a chance to be the e-commerce giant's second hub.

Few details of LA's bid have been publicly released, but experts predict the top contenders will have offered a bevy of tax incentives. The city developed its bid in collaboration with Los Angeles County and with the help of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.

"Mayor Garcetti is leading a compelling bid, together with our county partners, that aims to show Amazon why it can't afford to expand anywhere else but L.A.," Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in September.

"Our region has three top- tier research universities that attract world-class talent, and a uniquely dynamic way of life that keeps workers here," he added. "We're investing billions of dollars to create one of the most robust public transportation networks in America," Comisar said. "And our leading port and airport give us limitless connectivity to the rest of the world."

The LAEDC submitted nine possible sites in Los Angeles County, but it did not publicly identify them.

In October City Councilman Bob Blumenfield said he wants Warner Center in his west San Fernando Valley district to be part of the bid.

"Although the LAEDC will present Amazon with multiple locations in the county for Amazon's consideration, the city of Los Angeles will have a compelling case for its prospective sites, including the Warner Center in the West San Fernando Valley," he said at the time. "The Warner Center is uniquely positioned to meet Amazon's needs with a recently updated specific plan that encourages investment and makes approvals more streamlined to facilitate construction at the scale Amazon seeks."

In addition to the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Santa Clarita and Pomona were believed to be part of the bid.

Amazon's 20 finalists for HQ2 include:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Austin, Texas
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Columbus, Ohio
• Dallas, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Newark, New Jersey
• New York City, New York
• Northern Virginia, Virginia
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Toronto, Ontario
• Washington D.C.

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