A Surprise on the Short List for Amazon HQ2: Three Areas Around Washington, D.C.
January 18 2018 - 1:19PM
Dow Jones News
By Scott Calvert
Three of the 20 finalists on Amazon.com Inc.'s short list for
its second headquarters are in the area around the nation's capital
-- Washington, D.C.; Montgomery County, Md.; and Northern
Virginia.
Their candidacy sets up an unusual competition among neighbors
that are as close as a 5-mile drive apart. Part of the same
sprawling metro economy, the three share transportation networks,
three major airports, universities that supply plenty of tech
talent, and other attributes that Amazon desires. The proximity to
federal government decision makers also makes the area attractive,
analysts said.
"Making this list reaffirms what we already knew going into the
bid process -- Washington, D.C., is no longer a one-company
government town, we are a leader in innovation and tech, brimming
with top talent and endless opportunity," said Washington Mayor
Muriel Bowser.
There are some notable differences between the three finalists.
Taxes in Virginia are lower than in Washington or Montgomery
County. Though Northern Virginia voters reliably support Democratic
candidates, both Maryland and Washington are bluer politically than
Virginia as a whole.
While the Metro system extends into Maryland and Virginia,
Washington has the most extensive public-transit access.
Parts of Montgomery County and Northern Virginia are urban,
transit-oriented places that have drawn many young, highly educated
adults. Outlying areas retain a more suburban feel with limited or
no subway connections.
Given the overall similarities, incentives offered by the
Washington, Maryland and Virginia governments could be key if the
company zeroes in on the metro region of roughly six million
people.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has connections to the nation's capital.
He owns The Washington Post and has a home in the city.
"The fact that all three are there probably tells you the area
was on their radar screen from the get-go," said Mark White, deputy
director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason
University. "All the fundamentals they're looking for are
there."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 18, 2018 13:04 ET (18:04 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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