Could South Florida be home to Amazon's 2nd headquarters?
South Florida is among regions trying to convince Seattle-based Amazon to build its second North American headquarters here, per The Sun-Sentinel.
Economic development leaders say landing a deal for Amazon to develop its 8-million-square-foot, 50,000-employee campus here would transform the region by creating “international technology hub.” The $5 billion headquarters would be four times as large and have five times the employees that IBM’s complex in Boca Raton had at its peak in the 1980s.
But South Florida faces hefty competition from regions across the country and Canada. Since Amazon issued a request for proposals earlier this month, hundreds of communities have expressed interest. To better compete, local business leaders from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance in Broward County, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and The Beacon Council in Miami-Dade County are joining forces to create the proposal. The deadline for proposals is Oct. 19.
The groups developing the proposals are identifying potential sites for the campus in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. Amazon said it is looking for up to 100 acres. The groups are hoping that South Florida’s warm and sunny climate will provide an inviting contrast to Seattle’s cool and damp climate. The groups also plan to tout the region’s transportation options, including its three airports and the soon-to-open Brightline commuter train that will serve Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and eventually Orlando.