Chicago submitted its bid for Amazon’s HQ2 early Monday morning, according to a statement from the mayor’s office.
The submission brings the month-long process to an end as the city waits for Amazon to announce what the next steps will be, the mayor’s office said. The bid was submitted jointly from Mayor Emanuel and Gov. Rauner.
The bid highlighted some of Chicago’s strengths such as a top workforce, vibrant quality of life and a diverse ecosystem of research centers, potential customers and global operations. The city’s transportation advantages would give the company unparalleled global connectivity and more non-stop flights to Amazon’s key corporate destinations than any other city.
“Chicago offers unparalleled potential for future growth for businesses of all sizes and is the ideal place for Amazon to build its HQ2,” Mayor Emanuel said in a statement. “This bid will demonstrate to Amazon that Chicago has the talent, transportation and technology to help the company as it reaches new heights and continues to thrive for generations to come.”
The bid was submitted electronically on day one of a four-day window during which Amazon is accepting bids. Amazon expects to invest more than $5 billion for the construction of the headquarters and expects to employ 50,000 people after its completion.
“Amazon represents an extraordinary opportunity for Illinois to grow jobs, attract new residents, and build our tax base,” said Governor Rauner in a statement. “Our bid makes a powerful business case, linking our advantages in innovation, commerce, and R&D with Amazon’s aspirations for growth and talent recruitment.”
To support the bid, last month the Mayor and Governor announced the formation of a committee that is supporting the drive to bring Amazon’s HQ2 to the Chicago area. The committee is co-chaired by Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines.; Penny Pritzker, Founder and Chair of PSP Capital; Jim Reynolds, Chairman and CEO of Loop Capital; and Miles White, Chairman and CEO of Abbott. The Mayor and Governor are serving as Honorary Co-Chairs and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is serving as Honorary Vice-Chair. In total, the committee is comprised of more than 600 leaders from across the business, financial, technology, arts and culture, civic and education communities.
