Side Benefit to Amazon’s Headquarters Contest: Local Expertise
- 6 years ago
Side Benefit to Amazon’s Headquarters Contest: Local Expertise
Mr. Adler said Amazon’s bidding process would make Detroit a stronger contender for any company looking for a new or expanded location.
Mark Williams, president of the Strategic Development Group, a site selection consulting firm, said available tax
breaks, like those offered by Detroit, could be one of the most important pieces of information for Amazon
The company also has more than a dozen satellite offices focused on research
and development — Amazon calls them “tech hubs.” It has a large robotics unit near Boston, a machine translation team in Pittsburgh and a video game development group in San Diego.
The company did not realize until it saw the application from Louisville, Ky., the person said,
that there is a large pool of technical talent within 200 miles of the city and a local public-private partnership that helps train students to become entry-level software developers.
A local coalition that helps military veterans make the transition to civilian jobs, which
could help Amazon’s efforts to recruit veterans, also caught the company’s eye.
State and local officials have been enthusiastic about the jobs at the warehouses,
offering tax breaks and raving about Amazon’s arrival in news releases.
Mr. Adler said Amazon’s bidding process would make Detroit a stronger contender for any company looking for a new or expanded location.
Mark Williams, president of the Strategic Development Group, a site selection consulting firm, said available tax
breaks, like those offered by Detroit, could be one of the most important pieces of information for Amazon
The company also has more than a dozen satellite offices focused on research
and development — Amazon calls them “tech hubs.” It has a large robotics unit near Boston, a machine translation team in Pittsburgh and a video game development group in San Diego.
The company did not realize until it saw the application from Louisville, Ky., the person said,
that there is a large pool of technical talent within 200 miles of the city and a local public-private partnership that helps train students to become entry-level software developers.
A local coalition that helps military veterans make the transition to civilian jobs, which
could help Amazon’s efforts to recruit veterans, also caught the company’s eye.
State and local officials have been enthusiastic about the jobs at the warehouses,
offering tax breaks and raving about Amazon’s arrival in news releases.