2017 TOP STORIES: Indy area bids for Amazon HQ2

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

In October, Indianapolis joined a flurry of other cities in submitting a bid to become home to a second Amazon.com Inc. headquarters.

The giant online retailer kicked off the bidding war in September, when it announced it was searching for a home outside its Seattle base. The deal would bring 50,000 jobs and an investment of more than $5 billion in construction costs.

Amazon made it clear that tax breaks and grants would be big factors in its location decision. The company also stipulated that it wanted to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people; be able to attract top technical talent; be within 45 minutes of an international airport; have direct access to mass transit; and be able to expand that headquarters to as much as 8 million square feet in the next decade.

Amazon said it received 238 proposals from communities hoping to win the project, known as HQ2.

A “small, diverse group of business and private stakeholders” coordinated and funded by the Indy Chamber and led by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness were responsible for the central Indiana effort.

But not much is known about the proposal, as officials involved have declined to reveal potential sites or incentive offers.

Officials in Gary also submitted a proposal.

Amazon is expected to make a decision in 2018.•

Click here for other 2017 year-in-review stories.

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In