Private train cars, Amazon University, and new type of logo treatment Amazon?s HQ2 search has ended. But the trickle of information about the contestant cities? billion-dollar bids suggest that it?ll take a long time for local leaders to change their ways when it comes to courting corporations, in the hopes of creating new jobs and prosperity.
Amazon?s initial promise of a new office and 50,000 high-paying jobs?since divided between the winning cities, New York and Crystal City, Virginia?created a media frenzy (ahem, hi) and an outpouring of quirky, attention-getting bids. Kansas City left 5-star product reviews on the e-commerce site, Calgary offered to rename their city, and Birmingham promised to install massive Dash buttons in its downtown, all in attempts to become North America?s next big company town. The final bids showed just how serious the site selection game has become. Details from the city bids that have emerged?many remain undisclosed, and/or locked behind NDAs?suggest billion-dollar packages are commonplace in the corporate incentive game.
Earlier this month when the New York City Economic Development Corporation made public its pitch to Bezos, the document laid out how the city would roll out the red carpet for Amazon, even transforming the city?s iconic I ?? NY logo into an Amazon-friendly graphic.
But while NYC?s offered financial package, a combination of city and state funds ($1.525 billion in performance-based direct incentives for creating 2...