Hogsett: Amazon Announcement ‘Speaks Volumes’
Mayor Joe Hogsett in the IIB studio, September 2021. (IIB Photo)
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) choosing the city as one of 20 finalists for its second corporate headquarters shows Indy is "punching above our weight" as an attractive tech hub. He says Indianapolis is one of the least-populated metropolitan areas on the list. The project, announced late last year, is expected to bring a more than $5 billion investment and ultimately up to 50,000 jobs.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Hogsett said a recent trip to Seattle has made Indianapolis more "Amazon-ready." The Leadership Exchange Program, sponsored by the Indy Chamber, had chosen Seattle as a destination well before Amazon announced it was looking for a location for a second headquarters. As a result, Hogsett says a group of about 60 local leaders was able to see the "growing pains" Seattle experienced as a result of Amazon’s investment, and how the city dealt with them.
Other state and community leaders are reacting to this morning’s news as well.
Fishers Mayor and Central Indiana Council of Elected Officials Chairman Scott Fadness:
"Today’s announcement reaffirms that that opportunities for the Indianapolis Metro are endless when we work together as a region. It’s an exciting day worth celebrating, and it’s my hope that we continue to have these types of opportunities to work regionally, put our best foot forward, and drive innovation and growth in our economy."
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb:
We are thrilled to see Indianapolis on the list of finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters. It speaks to Indiana’s growing reputation on the world stage as a great state to locate and grow a business. We look forward to working with the central Indiana region and Amazon as they continue to narrow their list of potential sites for HQ2.
Hogsett expects the next few months to be as busy as the last few have been, as Amazon is looking to move quickly. Gary and Hammond also submitted proposals for the headquarters. As the only Indiana site selected as a finalist, Hogsett says the city can now receive the state’s full attention for the effort.
The finalists, selected from 238 proposals submitted from throughout North America are:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Boston
- Chicago
- Columbus, Ohio
- Dallas
- Denver
- Indianapolis
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Montgomery County, Maryland
- Nashville
- New York City
- Newark
- Northern Virginia
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Raleigh
- Toronto
- Washington D.C.