New Jersey

#PhillyDelivers Push for Amazon Headquarters, Christie Supports Newark's Bid

Push to show that #PhillyDelivers

As cities across the country put in their bids for Amazon’s second headquarters, Philadelphia is working to finish its proposal before Thursday’s deadline. Philadelphia released a second promotional video Tuesday in an effort to persuade Amazon to call the City of Brotherly Love their next home.

"Centrally located on the northeast corridor, we’re the second largest city on the East Coast. We have an immense amount of access to talent and we have room to grow," said Sylvie Gallier Howard, the chief of staff of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. "They’re a company that needs a lot of employees and needs room to grow."

Using the hashtag "#PhillyDelivers, the city drove home its "Talent" with a video Tuesday that features La Colombe CEO Todd Carmichael, Wilco Electronic Systems executive vice president Brigitte Daniel, Urban Outfitter CTO Matt Strode and Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb.

Part of the push is Philly's diversity and innovation. The first promo video focused on "Logistics."

Amazon, which is based in Seattle and has its headquarters there, has said its second headquarters would bring 50,000 jobs along with it. Howard told NBC10 she visited Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle to get an idea of what the company is looking for.

"Going to Seattle allowed us to see what the campus looks like to get a feel for what the company is like," Howard said. "What they look for in their building."

Philadelphia will release one more video before Thursday’s deadline.

"I really got the sense that they really need a much more scalable city and that the East Coast would be much more ideal for them," Howard said.

Philadelphia city leaders are stepping up their game to bring Amazon to our city. Over the next 24 hours, nearly a dozen people are headed to Seattle. NBC10’s Erin Coleman caught up with some of them about what it will take to get the new company headquarters here.

Philadelphia will be competing with four New Jersey cities. Camden, Jersey City, New Brunswick and Newark have also put in their bids. On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backed Newark’s effort alongside Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka. Christie said the state and the city are planning nearly $7 billion in tax breaks.

"Newark is prime for Amazon's HQ2 development, and this deal would amount to one of the most successful endeavors in the history of New Jersey and Amazon," Christie said in a statement.

Christie previously estimated the second headquarters could generate up to $9 billion in economic activity.

Monday's announcement of a possible $7 billion in tax incentives is $2 billion more than what Christie and the Democrat-led Legislature last month agreed to enact to attract Amazon.

Christie's announcement also outlined a city property tax abatement worth up to $1 billion and a city wage tax waiver that he said would let potential Amazon workers keep $1 billion over 20 years.

Booker, a former Newark mayor, said the project would contribute to the "biggest economic boon in Newark since the 1960s."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us