Maryland Governor Unveils $5 Billion Package To Woo Amazon
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Amazon's pick of Montgomery County as one of 20 finalists in competition for its second world headquarters has Maryland making a historic pitch.
The Prime Act of 2018 offers $5 billion in income and property tax credits, sales and use tax exemptions, and infrastructure and transportation improvements. Gov. Larry Hogan says the package makes Maryland competitive with all other finalists on Amazon's list.
"We're thrilled that Maryland is on that shortlist and is potentially going to receive 50,000 jobs, and we're going to do everything we can to make sure that happens," Hogan said. "The contribution to our economy is just incredible and almost impossible to fathom."
Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia also made the cut, and 17 other jurisdictions are in the running.
Warshawski Marketing expert Shana Harris says you have to stand out.
"One unique thing that we maybe haven't seen yet is really creating that brand experience. Amazon has such a strong brand and aside from just naming a street after Amazon, what is it about the experience a city can tap into that says we get who you are, Amazon?" Harris said.
Hogan calls Amazon's HQ2 "the single greatest economic development opportunity in a generation."
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