Merrimack Valley Coalition Releases Proposal Filed To Woo Amazon

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- As more than a dozen Massachusetts communities submitted proposals to Amazon to hopefully host the retail giant's second headquarters, the coalition of Merrimack Valley towns that includes North Andover, Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen went one step further and released their complete pitch to the public. Under the slogan "Let's Get Merri'd," the towns acknowledged they were a pitching as a long shot while showcasing the merits of the Osgood Landing site they hope will serve as the nerve center for the 50,000 jobs Amazon has estimated it would bring to the winning region.

"We understand that we’re not the only one vying for your hand. And we’re, perhaps, the last one you thought you’d get hitched to. But isn’t that how some of the most beautiful relationships begin?" the the proposal read. The complete proposal has been posted online.

Subscribe to North Andover Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

In addition to the proposal, the group released its cover letter to Amazon. The Merrimack Valley proposal also included a seven-minute video presentation for Amazon's review:

Here are where the bids have come from or may come from today. If we missed a spot, email mike.carraggi@patch.com.

• Boston
• Billerica/Tewksbury/Lowell
• North Andover/Haverhill/Lawrence
• Foxborough
• Somerville
• Worcester
• Lynn
• Weymouth
• Fall River
• New Bedford
• Taunton
• Douglas/Millbury/Sutton/Northridge/Uxbridge
• Marlborough/Hudson/Northborough/Southborough/Westborough
• Leominster

Earlier: Merrimack Valley Officials Tour Sites For Potential Amazon Headquarters (10/4/2017)

The coalition previously announced it would pitch the the 168-acre Osgood Landing parcel in North Andover as the main campus, which needs to be able to accommodate a 500,000 square foot building and room to build up to a total of 8 million square feet beyond 2027.

North Andover has been looking for a tenant for the massive property since Lucent scaled back operations at the facility in 2003. At its peak, 12,000 people worked there. Most recently, the site has been eyed as a possible site for a cannabis farm as the state continues its move to legalized, recreational marijuana and retail cannabis sales.

Amazon is expected to make its selection in 2018. The coalition's proposal faces steep odds: municipalities throughout North America have entered the Amazon chase, including a competing project that is eyeing the Suffolk Downs horses track in Revere and East Boston. Earlier this month, just as the Merrimack Valley group issued a press release announcing the site selection, the Boston Globe reported that analysts were raising concerns that Massachusetts doesn't have enough skilled workers to make a serious bid for Amazon. They worry that Amazon would snatch up all the tech-sector talent and ruin the local business climate that has been friendly to smaller tech startups.

Screenshot from Merrimack Valley Amazon proposal video.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).