CHICAGO – Chicago made the list of 20 finalists where Amazon could build their next headquarters, the company announced Thursday. The winning city could get up to 50,000 high-paying jobs and $5 billion in investment.
Amazon's criteria includes the site being a metropolitan area with a population greater than one million and the ability to attract and keep strong technical talent.
The other metro areas making the cut are: Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Md.; Nashville; Newark, N.J.; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, N.C.; Toronto; Washington D.C.
“We are delighted to be among the competitors in the next stage of Amazon’s HQ2 search,” Rauner said in a statement. “We are ready to show the company why we believe the Chicago area is their best option.”
Mayor Emanuel was also delighted with the news. He's trying to lure the company to Chicago with a $2.5 billion incentive package – a possibly more if Amazon were to pick as their site the Thompson Building or the now-closed Michael Reese Hospital.
But not everyone is so excited about Amazon coming to Chicago. The transportation system would be overloaded with 50,000 more on an already overworked Metra system, one Metra board member said at a recent forum at the Technology & Manufacturing Association in Schaumburg.
And the Chicago education system has failed many that would be excellent workforce prospects, two manufacturers said.
Between those factors, Amazon would put quite a burden on an already creaking system, they said.
If Amazon’s leadership puts a corporate HQ in Illinois, it’s time to take them away with the butterfly nets and put them in straightjackets.
You’re right, let’s just not have the jobs and headquarters provided by largest e-commerce company in the western hemisphere. Illinois can obviously afford it…not.
Is there 50,000 people who can pass a drug test?
Good point, Live Free or Die –
That is likely to be a big problem … also, don’t forget, Chicago has a $15/hr minimum wage and paid time off – that may come back to bite.
I don’t think you have the ability to read and comprehend what the previous poster wrote.
Well, at least we know the liberals are for it.
For jobs? Are y’all not for jobs now?
Again, you are incapable of reading correctly if you take away that people are against jobs.
Widdle Stevie thinks he’s clever. Stevie, words have specific scopes and meanings, please try to remember that