Amazon has three new homes. The ecommerce giant has picked New York City and Arlington, Virginia for its next main offices. There will also be an Operation Center of Excellence in Nashville, Tennessee.
A long search finally ends
Amazon has been on a search for a new main office for a year. Cities across the US lobbied to be the next home of the online retailer. Ultimately, chief executive officer (CEO), Jeff Bezos, crowned New York, Nashville, and Arlington the winners. Bezos shared his happiness with his choices.
‘These [three] locations will allow us to attract world-class talent that will help us to continue inventing for customers for years to come. The team did a great job selecting these sites, and we look forward to becoming an even bigger part of these communities,’ said Bezos.
Amazon has vowed to invest $5 billion in the offices and create 55,000 jobs in each of the new offices.
Why New York, Nashville, and Arlington were chosen
New York was an obvious choice for Amazon because it’s the biggest city is the US and a tech hub in its own right. The city has invested in technology talent for years at its universities and the investment paid off. In addition to the knowledge, the retailer will receive $1.5 billion in tax incentives from the city.
Arlington enticed Amazon to come through a $577 million credit. In addition to the tax cuts, the new office is strategically located for the online retailer. Virginia is close to Washington, DC, one of Bezos' home bases. The city is also in proximity to a data center that controls 70% of the US internet traffic flow. The decision could increase the company’s online efficiency.
Nashville provided incentives to Amazon as well, but there are strings attached. The corporation will receive $102 million in tax credits, but they are dependent on the ecommerce company creating 5000 jobs over seven years in Tennessee.
Controversy over H2
While many New York and Virginia politicians are happy about being chosen by Amazon, some are concerned. Representative-elect, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the newly elected Congresswoman of the New York neighborhood where the company will be based. She expressed fears from her constituents that the corporation will mistreat its future workers. The retailer has been criticised for paying low wages and providing poor conditions for warehouse workers.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote about her doubts about the Amazon deal on Twitter.
‘We need to focus on good healthcare, living wages, affordable rent. Corporations that offer none of those things should be met with scepticism. It’s possible to establish economic partnerships with real opportunities for working families, instead of a race-to-the-bottom competition,’ tweeted Ocasio-Cortez.
Amazon has promised to provide well-paying jobs to its employees. Regardless of how residents feel, New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Nashville, Tennessee will be changed by the company’s influence.
