Toronto made the list of 20 possible locations for a 2nd headquarters for online retail giant Amazon.
Simcoe County initially offered three potential sites including Bradford - West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, and one other that was undisclosed - but they did not make it through to the next round.
In fact. Toronto was the only Canadian community to make the short list.
In total, Amazon received 238 applications.
Other U-S destinations like New York City, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles are all possibilities.
Amazon's first headquarters is in Seattle, and the new one would create about 50-thousand high paying jobs.
The list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/?node=17044620011
Our bid to bring Amazon’s second world-headquarters to Simcoe
County appears to have formally ended, but our efforts to promote our region to
business investors around the world can certainly be viewed as a huge success
and we celebrate the businesses and industries that are already located here and
have discovered the benefits of working and living in this region. Our
objectives were to promote our area with the goal of ultimately creating jobs
and investment in Simcoe County.
We had a very impressive and serious bid that was endorsed by
our federal and provincial partners. Landing Amazon was always going to be a
challenge for each jurisdiction that made a submission but absolutely worth the
effort for us to showcase our region and attract other businesses and economic
growth to our area. Our message was heard by industry, businesses, and our
residents that we are open for business. We offer something unique too –
something that business leaders and workers want – an incredible alternative to
the huge and expensive urban centres. Many business leaders and industries have
told us that and proven it by locating here in Central Ontario.
Through our North of Ordinary pitch, which received
incredible media coverage and social media engagement within and beyond our
borders, we’ve shown the GTA, the province, the federal government, and
international markets the Simcoe County experience and opportunity is North of
Ordinary – beyond regular – and we’re investment ready.
· Our
efforts to lure Amazon to Simcoe County were recognized by the economic
development branches at both the provincial and federal level
· National
and international investors now know and understand that we have available and
shovel-ready employment lands, infrastructure in place, a highly skilled labour
market and local governments that are willing and ready to work collaboratively
and quickly to form meaningful partnerships
· Our
current businesses heard loud and clear that we are here to help them grow and
thrive
· We created
excitement and promise among residents, students and job
seekers
Over the past four years we have worked hard at the County to
expand our economic development portfolio and role. From hosting international
business familiarization tours, attending sector-specific trade shows,
developing local strategies to support current businesses and building labour
focused training and education programs, such as the Skilled Trades Expo, we are
making huge strides to grow our economy, help businesses and create jobs. We
welcome other businesses and industries to reach out and join the North of
Ordinary movement. We certainly remain available to assist the Toronto bid
partners and the Province of Ontario in any way on their continuing efforts with
Amazon.
Gerry Marshall
Warden, County of Simcoe