Third Maryland Municipality To Push For Amazon HQ2
COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ/AP) — A third Maryland municipality is making a push for Amazon's second headquarters.
Howard County is drafting a proposal and incentive package in hopes of attracting Amazon to the Columbia Gateway, a 920-acre business park along Interstate 95. The proposal will also include sites in downtown Columbia.
The county joins a crowded national competition. Since Amazon announced plans for its second headquarters earlier this month, municipalities from all over North America have been drafting proposals.
"It's an excellent location. It's a place where the people who work for Amazon are going to want to live anyway, so why not let them live near where they work," said Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman. "Amazon would have well more than what they asked for, and even be bigger."
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In Maryland, Baltimore City and Prince George's County both plan to bid on the headquarters, which could mean 50,000 new jobs.
Gov. Larry Hogan has said he plans to personally lobby Amazon to come to Port Covington in Baltimore.
"I happen to believe this is the best of the sites that I've seen, and Baltimore City could use the shot in the arm more than anyone else," Hogan said.
With the deadline slowly approaching, local leaders are clamoring to land the deal. If Amazon chooses anywhere in Maryland, it would be a win for the entire state.
"If Howard County gets it, it's good for Maryland," Kittleman said. "If Baltimore City gets it, it's good for Maryland."
In its public request for proposals, Amazon said it is looking for a location of at least 100 acres that is within or near a metropolitan area of at least one million people.
Cities and developers have until October 19 to bid for the new headquarters.
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