Amazon’s relationship with the city of Fresno will remain as a distribution center location.
The online retail giant announced 20 finalists for locations where it would build its second headquarters. Fresno did not make the list.
Only two cities west of the Rockies made the cut: Los Angeles and Denver.
Fresno made its pitch in September, even though it did not offer any tax incentives as other cities did.
“We knew that HQ2 was a long-shot, but we gave it our best shot,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand. “I think we offered an innovative answer – but, no we’re not surprised.” (More of Mayor Brand’s statement can be seen in the video above.)
Nathan Ahle, President and CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce offered a similar reaction. “While we’re certainly disappointed Fresno didn’t make the cut to be named a finalist for Amazon’s HQ2, the Chamber is very appreciative of the efforts of the city, Fresno County EDC and other public and private entities that tried to make this dream a reality.”
“At this point, the Chamber is excited to welcome Amazon to our community with its new distribution center and see the impact their company can have on the Central Valley,” Ahle said.
Amazon says it will invest over $5 billion and include 50,000 high-paying jobs. HQ2, as it is known, will complement Amazon’s primary headquarters in Seattle.
Based on Amazon’s requirements, Fresno was a long shot. Among the retailer’s preferences:
- Metropolitan areas with more than one million people
- A stable and business-friendly environment
- 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
Amazon, however, is in the middle of building a distribution center in the south part of Fresno. Hiring for engineers and managers is taking place this week.
Other cities making the list include: Atlanta; Austin, TX; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, OH; Dallas; Indianapolis; Miami; Montgomery County, MD; Nashville; Northern Virginia; Newark, NJ; New York City; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh; Toronto; and Washington, D.C.
This story has been updated.
