El Paso's HQ2 Bid
By Carl Kibunjia
There are over 100 cities bidding for Amazon’s second headquarters and El Paso is one of those cities. Amazon is going to invest $5 Billion into the construction of their new headquarters and create up to 50,000 high paying jobs. Amazon’s first headquarters is in Seattle, Washington and according to Amazon, it has invested $38 Billion into Seattle’s economy between 2010 to 2016, and believes its presence has led to a rise in the number of Fortune 500 companies deciding to move their research and development centers to the city. If Amazon chooses to come to the Sun City, this would be a substantial boost to El Paso’s economy. However, Amazon does have a few requirements for bidders.
The online retail giant said it was looking for metropolitan areas with more than one million people; a stable and business-friendly environment; close proximity to an international airport and major roads; access to mass transit; urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent; communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options. Given the requirements, can El Paso handle Amazon coming to town?
Being one of the largest international markets in North America, with a population of more than 2.5 million, El Paso and the surrounding area has unique economic advantages backed by the varied assets of two countries and three states. It’s ideally situated in a key location on the largest international border in the world and has five top universities, three medical schools, three nursing schools and number one in border regions for university R&D expenditures as well as the highest college student population by workforce per capita of any border region. El Paso is one of the largest binational, bilingual communities in the world which would be advantageous for Amazon in their expansion south of the border.
In the last ten years, Texas has ranked in the top ten best states for business. Factors considered for these rankings were several categories including tax climates, regulations and red tape, and quality of living. Also included in the study was public education, health, and cost of living, given that such factors can impact the quality of an overall workforce. Pro-business policies, low taxes, and predictable regulation have made Texas an ideal state to start and grow businesses in.
Therefore, I absolutely believe El Paso is ready for Amazon to come to town. Not only do we meet all requirements, we exceed them. I believe we have the infrastructure to support Amazon’s huge operations. The economic impact of Amazon coming to El Paso will be tremendous positive for the borderland.
The online retail giant said it was looking for metropolitan areas with more than one million people; a stable and business-friendly environment; close proximity to an international airport and major roads; access to mass transit; urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent; communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options. Given the requirements, can El Paso handle Amazon coming to town?
Being one of the largest international markets in North America, with a population of more than 2.5 million, El Paso and the surrounding area has unique economic advantages backed by the varied assets of two countries and three states. It’s ideally situated in a key location on the largest international border in the world and has five top universities, three medical schools, three nursing schools and number one in border regions for university R&D expenditures as well as the highest college student population by workforce per capita of any border region. El Paso is one of the largest binational, bilingual communities in the world which would be advantageous for Amazon in their expansion south of the border.
In the last ten years, Texas has ranked in the top ten best states for business. Factors considered for these rankings were several categories including tax climates, regulations and red tape, and quality of living. Also included in the study was public education, health, and cost of living, given that such factors can impact the quality of an overall workforce. Pro-business policies, low taxes, and predictable regulation have made Texas an ideal state to start and grow businesses in.
Therefore, I absolutely believe El Paso is ready for Amazon to come to town. Not only do we meet all requirements, we exceed them. I believe we have the infrastructure to support Amazon’s huge operations. The economic impact of Amazon coming to El Paso will be tremendous positive for the borderland.
