Amazon plans to build another US headquarters that's 'equal' in size to its Seattle campus
REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Amazon HQ2 will cost $5 billion (£3.8 billion) and eventually house up to 50,000 Amazon staff, Amazon said in a press release.
The ecommerce giant currently has its main HQ spread across 33 buildings in Seattle but its aggressive expansion means it is quickly running out of space in the city.
"We expect HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, in a statement.
"Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We're excited to find a second home."
Amazon employs more than 380,000 people worldwide, with around 40,000 of those in Seattle.
Amazon said it wants HQ2 to be in a metropolitan area with a "stable and business friendly environment" and more than 1 million people. The company also wants HQ2 to be within 45 minutes of an international airport and in a location where there is potential to attract strong technical talent.
Amazon made a point of stressing that HQ2 will be a "complete headquarters" for Amazon as opposed to a satellite office.
The company said it expects to hire new teams and execs at HQ2 and that employees in "HQ1" could be given the opportunity to relocate to HQ2.
Amazon is inviting city representatives and those working for regional economic development organizations to submit a proposal if they want to host Amazon's second headquarters.
Incentives offered by local governments will play a key role when Amazon comes to make a decision.
"Incentives offered by the state/province and local communities to offset initial capital outlay and ongoing operational costs will be significant factors in the decision-making process," the company said.
Amazon said it will announce the location for HQ2 next year. It's unclear when the project will be complete.
Amazon
- I got a $40K raise using this 30-second strategy. It made me realize loud work, not hard work, always wins.
- Qatar Airways' new CEO explains why it's sticking with the Airbus A380 as other airlines retire the costly superjumbo
- Prince Harry and Meghan found out about Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis on TV like everyone else, report says
- FPIs make remarkable comeback, infuse ₹2 lakh cr in FY24
- PM Modi and Bill Gates discuss AI, climate change, millets and more
- Consuming excessive salt and inadequate potassium, protein is making North Indians prone to life-threatening diseases: Study
- Upcoming cars and two-wheelers launching in India in April 2024
- Ice melt in Antarctica and Greenland is slowing Earth's rotation, affecting timekeeping: Study