Amazon reportedly chooses second headquarters: What it means for Ohio

Amazon will reportedly split its second headquarters between New York and Virginia, the Associated Press reported this morning.

Instead of one location, Amazon is expected to announce early Tuesday it will build two offices — one in New York and one in Northern Virginia near Washington D.C., the AP reported. The search for a second headquarters lasted more than a year and attracted more than 230 bids from cities across the U.S. and Canada.

 

» WATCH: Amazon’s first ‘store of the future’ opens today

Amazon’s second headquarters is promised to bring 50,000 jobs for skilled workers.

Ohio wanted in on the action with multiple cities like Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus bidding to land the second headquarters. In January, Ohio senators and all 15 sitting representatives of both parties again pitched Amazon CEO Jeffrey Bezos on the state’s assets, as they did when multiple Ohio cities were in the running for the multi-billion dollar investment.

Government officials touted central Ohio’s reputation for research and development; its position in the national transportation grid; its status as a high-technology Smart City; its higher education opportunities, including at Ohio State University; and its workforce.

» Project Big Daddy: How Monroe landed Amazon’s next fulfillment center

Columbus was among 20 finalist cities identified by Seattle-based Amazon. State officials have not issued any statements on Amazon’s decision to build its second headquarters elsewhere.

Amazon already has a heavy presence in Ohio. In late August, the e-commerce giant started hiring for its new fulfillment center in Monroe — bringing more than 1,000 full-time jobs to the area. The facility will open in 2019.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.39 percent, 10-year tax credit for the Amazon facility that is expected to create $26.7 million in new payroll and be a $30 million fixed-asset investment. The tax credit starts in January.

As part of the tax credit agreement, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority says Amazon will have to maintain operations at the Monroe location for at least 13 years.

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