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South Florida counties come together to woo Amazon
Broward commissioner touts lack of state income tax, warm weather
As cities across the country prepare their bids for Amazon.com’s second headquarters, South Florida’s three counties are coming together to submit one proposal.
The Beacon Council in Miami-Dade, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance in Broward and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County will put together a joint bid, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine sent a letter to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, boasting the region’s advantages on Wednesday, including its “zero state income tax” and a “mild climate with an 82 degree average temperature.” Other pluses include transportation options like Brightline, multiple international airports, and colleges and universities.
Good Morning @JeffBezos How about NW Broward for your 2nd Headquarters? https://t.co/XDYpUnS3JE … @lbarszewski @IanMargol @BrittanyWallman
— Michael Udine (@Michaeludine) September 20, 2017
Amazon’s checklist for the second headquarters includes low taxes, incentives, proximity to mass transit and “presence and support of a diverse population.” The company plans to have phase 1, a building with more than 500,000 square feet, completed by 2019. After 2027, its footprint will grow to up to 8 million square feet. Amazon plans to give priority to undeveloped, shovel-ready greenfield sites and infill opportunities.
The Seattle-based company plans to build in a major metropolitan area, within 45 minutes of an airport, near quality universities, and with a population of over 1 million people. Amazon is also looking to target engineers and others in the tech sector. Bids for the second campus are due by Oct. 19. Cities like Los Angeles, Orlando and Chicago have already announced their plans to enter the race. [Sun-Sentinel] — Katherine Kallergis