economic development

Amazon HQ2, one year later: How the search for a 2nd home changed the company, and the country

by Nat Levy & Monica Nickelsburg on November 13, 2019November 14, 2019 at 7:48 am 2 Comments

One year ago today, Amazon named New York City and Northern Virginia as the winners of its search for a second headquarters, concluding its 14-month quest by pledging to build… Read More

Amazon hires Washington DC economic development lead in charge of HQ2 courtship

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 at 11:14 am 2 Comments

The Washington D.C. official tasked with luring Amazon’s prized second headquarters project will join the tech giant’s public policy team. Brian Kenner is leaving his post as D.C.’s Deputy Mayor… Read More

Podcast

Why Amazon is pulling a giant team out of Seattle, and what it means for the tech giant’s home region

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 6, 2019April 6, 2019 at 7:29 am 7 Comments

News that Amazon is shifting its worldwide operations team out of Seattle to nearby Bellevue, Wash., quickly ignited a debate in the region about the tech giant’s incredible growth and… Read More

New York budget director assigns blame for Amazon HQ2 collapse in scathing letter

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 24, 2019February 25, 2019 at 12:32 pm 39 Comments

New York’s chief number cruncher is calling out critics of Amazon’s defunct plans to build a headquarters in Queens for derailing “the single greatest economic development opportunity” in decades. Robert… Read More

Amazon HQ2’s future in New York City uncertain as politicians butt heads

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 5, 2019February 5, 2019 at 2:01 pm1 Comment

New York leaders who spent a year courting Amazon HQ2 are suddenly grappling with the possibility that the project they celebrated as a done deal could fall apart. On Monday,… Read More

Podcast

Amazon takes its hometown baggage to NYC as Apple makes nice with Austin, Seattle, and SoCal

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 14, 2018January 15, 2019 at 8:14 pmComment

Amazon and Apple are planning new homes in new cities, each with room for thousands of employees. But the comparison between the two companies’ expansion plans ends there. While Amazon… Read More

NYC Council grills Amazon over HQ2: ‘You’re worth $1 trillion. Why do you need our $3 billion?’

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 at 11:08 am 7 Comments

Amazon got a healthy dose of New York brashness Wednesday as city councilmembers grilled company executives and their economic development partners over the plan to build a 25,000-person office in… Read More

Photos and documents reveal Amazon’s future Queens home and how New York lured the company

by Monica Nickelsburg on December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 at 2:58 pm1 Comment

Talent, real estate, accessibility, and killer views of the Manhattan skyline. Those are just some of the selling points New York officials used to convince Amazon to plant its (not… Read More

Two HQ2s? Amazon reportedly plans to divide its second headquarters between two cities

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 5, 2018November 6, 2018 at 7:02 am 4 Comments

Amazon plans to split its second headquarters evenly between two cities, an anonymous source familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. It’s the latest twist in the company’s… Read More

Video

Economic report lays out strategies to boost Washington’s $1.8B space industry

by Alan Boyle on September 27, 2018September 27, 2018 at 1:47 pmComment

A newly published economic report estimates the space industry’s contribution to Washington state’s economy at $1.8 billion and 6,200 jobs in 2018 — and goes on to suggest ways to boost… Read More

Win or lose, Amazon HQ2 put 20 cities on the map — and some are already reaping the rewards

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 at 10:58 amComment

After pitching aggressively and offering up millions of dollars in tax incentives, Denver landed a coveted economic development deal earlier this summer. ALSO: Amazon is staffing up in these HQ2… Read More

Is Washington, D.C., worthy of Amazon HQ2? We tested the nation’s capital to find out

by Todd Bishop on May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 at 11:48 am 17 Comments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The stylish Italian restaurant Masseria is easy to miss, hidden between a construction site and an industrial lot in D.C.’s Union Market district. But if you were… Read More

Video

Protestors in Amazon HQ2 cities around the country demand more transparency in bidding process

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 11, 2018April 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm1 Comment

Activists from Chicago to Atlanta held demonstrations and town halls Wednesday to demand more transparency from their cities, as local leaders try to land Amazon HQ2. Twenty cities are in… Read More

How the City of Seattle can improve its relationship with Amazon (and Microsoft, too)

by Bill Schrier on January 28, 2018January 28, 2018 at 2:37 pm 6 Comments

Amazon is looking for a second headquarters city, “co-equal” to Seattle. Seattle’s city Leaders suddenly have an immense interest in their relationship with the city’s largest employer, a company which… Read More

Video

May HQ2 be ever in your favor: Amazon’s new short list pits 20 cities against each other in a risky game

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 at 8:08 am1 Comment

Amazon’s astounding decision to establish a second and equal corporate headquarters outside of Seattle simultaneously made the company an object of desire and scorn as cities were suddenly pitted against… Read More

Video

Watch John Oliver roast Amazon, Jeff Bezos and local governments over HQ2 incentives

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 at 8:39 am 12 Comments

It was only a matter of time before Amazon’s controversial search for a second North American headquarters made its way into John Oliver’s crosshairs. The comedian targeted Amazon’s HQ2 contest… Read More

Working Geek: How Seattle’s economic development guru Brian Surratt is quietly shaping the city’s business and tech future

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 6, 2017July 6, 2017 at 3:12 pmComment

When it comes to local government, some players shine in the limelight while others exercise their influence from the wings. Brian Surratt, director of the City of Seattle’s executive office… Read More

economic development

Amazon HQ2, one year later: How the search for a 2nd home changed the company, and the country

Amazon hires Washington DC economic development lead in charge of HQ2 courtship

Why Amazon is pulling a giant team out of Seattle, and what it means for the tech giant’s home region

New York budget director assigns blame for Amazon HQ2 collapse in scathing letter

Amazon HQ2’s future in New York City uncertain as politicians butt heads

Amazon takes its hometown baggage to NYC as Apple makes nice with Austin, Seattle, and SoCal

NYC Council grills Amazon over HQ2: ‘You’re worth $1 trillion. Why do you need our $3 billion?’

Photos and documents reveal Amazon’s future Queens home and how New York lured the company

Two HQ2s? Amazon reportedly plans to divide its second headquarters between two cities

Economic report lays out strategies to boost Washington’s $1.8B space industry

Win or lose, Amazon HQ2 put 20 cities on the map — and some are already reaping the rewards

Is Washington, D.C., worthy of Amazon HQ2? We tested the nation’s capital to find out

Protestors in Amazon HQ2 cities around the country demand more transparency in bidding process

How the City of Seattle can improve its relationship with Amazon (and Microsoft, too)

May HQ2 be ever in your favor: Amazon’s new short list pits 20 cities against each other in a risky game

Watch John Oliver roast Amazon, Jeff Bezos and local governments over HQ2 incentives

Working Geek: How Seattle’s economic development guru Brian Surratt is quietly shaping the city’s business and tech future

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