The cities of Buffalo and Rochester have announced a collaborative effort to lure online retail giant Amazon to Western New York.
Last month, Amazon announced it would examine locations for a second corporate headquarters, known as HQ2. There, Amazon would hire as many as 50,000 full-time workers over the course of 10 to 15 years.
On Thursday, the economic development organizations Invest Buffalo Niagara and Greater Rochester Enterprise announced they will submit a joint proposal for the two metro regions.
“In assessing the full scope of the Amazon HQ2 RFP opportunity, it was apparent that by linking our efforts, the combined Buffalo Rochester Metro Corridor can offer a proposal that is both compelling and extremely competitive,” said InBN President and CEO Tom Kucharski and GRE Interim President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt, in a statement. “With over 2.2 million people, a very talented labor pool, and an extremely livable community, our organizations are excited to join forces in attempting to draw the interest of Amazon.”
The project is expected to require more than $5 billion in capital expenditures. Along with its workforce, officials say the submission will extol attractive virtues of the region, including its affordability, low operating costs for businesses, ease of travel and access to leisure and lifestyle activities.
“Over the years, some of the most innovative companies in the world have called Buffalo and Rochester home,” said City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and City of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, in a statement. “We look forward to seeing that pioneering history showcased in the proposal alongside the recent resurgence that our cities are experiencing, be it through notable downtown commercial and residential developments, tech and startup industry expansion and activity, affordable housing and good jobs, or the newfound urban vibe that has been attracting millennials and working professionals to the region.”
The organization says the eventual proposal will include site locations, information on the area's many colleges and universities, and will emphasize the significance of the region's close proximity to Canada.
