PHILADELPHIA, October 19, 2017 – Today, City Council passed a resolution introduced by Councilman Derek Green (At-Large), authorizing the Committee of the Whole to have public hearings on the City’s proposal to bring Amazon’s HQ2 to Philadelphia. This comes following the formal submission of the City’s application earlier today and a more than a month after Amazon announced it was seeking a location for the second headquarters’ campus.
As Philadelphia – a designated World Heritage City – continues to position itself as a global destination, the idea of having the country’s largest online retailer call the City of Brotherly Love home to its second headquarters appeals to residents and stakeholders on a much greater scale with respect to the long-term impacts, particularly following the successful hosting of such events as the Democratic National Convention, the World Meeting of Families and this year’s NFL Draft.
According to Amazon’s Request for Proposals (RFP), the HQ2 site is projected to invest over $5 billion in physical infrastructure and create more than 50,000 full-time jobs in the coming years. This would highlight the City’s already thriving landscape of successful entrepreneurs and investors who’ve come here to stay and help further stimulate Philadelphia’s economic growth.
“This is a moon-shot moment for Philadelphia,” said Councilman Green. “We are truly competing for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will give a tremendous boost to, as well as dramatically diversify not just the City’s economy, but the City overall. I’m very optimistic about our chances. But regardless of the outcome, I look forward to continuing the dialogue with my colleagues, the Kenney Administration, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and others about how to better position Philadelphia on the world stage.”
Read the resolution: Resolution (Amazon)(DSG)(2017-10-19)
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Councilman Derek S. Green, Esquire is currently serving his first term as an At-Large member of Philadelphia City Council. Green is Chair of Council’s Committee on the Disabled and Persons with Special Needs. More information at www.phlcouncil.com/DerekGreen
Photo: PhiladelphiaDelivers.com
