Why Amazon HQ2 Should Choose Atlanta

Amazon sparked a national contest with 238 proposals filling in for the role of Amazon HQ2. Recently, the list narrowed down to 20 notable cities as potential candidates. On the list, Atlanta Georgia offered a deal that may be difficult to refuse. From offering financial incentives to free land, there is great potential in occupying Amazon. Although that is a fact, there is an even bigger advantage for Amazon to move to Atlanta.

Amazon gave a promise to bring in 50,000 lucrative jobs and $5 billion in additional investments to the new location of HQ2. The impact of the tech innovative company will be net positive for Atlanta, Georgia. This includes fame and national respect to the region. The offer is appealing to Atlanta, however the city has prior recognition as they hosted the 1996 Olympics. Instead, Amazon may be the one getting the respect if they move to Georgia.

The Atlanta region is already attracting the tech company due to their professionalism. The city is business driven as copious Fortune 500 companies are within the Metro Atlanta area. This will foster Amazon’s wish for a stable and business-friendly environment. The community welcomes businesses in with their title for high degree of affordability and a healthy economy.

Amazon is in search for employment in software development and related fields. On the forefront of their talent search is Atlanta Georgia with the surrounding schools of Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College. The appeal does not end there, Kasim Reed, the mayor of Atlanta is offering incentives and development that would be worth more than $1 billion. Moreover, the whole state of Georgia seems to be in support of occupying HQ2. Georgia is also uniquely presenting a branding opportunity to Amazon, with the town Stonecrest offering to rename itself as Amazon, Georgia. The small town outside of Georgia finalized the deal by granting legal power in the town of Stonecrest to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo.

Image From Fortune

‘Think of Atlanta as a blank canvas, and every company that moves here has the opportunity to paint whatever picture they want which then becomes part of a tapestry that’s now making Atlanta an exciting place to live’, spoke Lilian M Raji from The Lilian Raji Agency.

The tech company will announce the winning city later in 2018. Meanwhile, proposals are still being presented to Amazon by representatives. As governors continue to voice their opinions, communities are silenced out by the public. Small businesses and agencies within Atlanta are able share their professional insight to Amazon. This is why Amazon HQ2 Should Choose Atlanta:

How will Amazon HQ2 affect the economy of the city?

“Amazon HQ2 will provide huge economic benefits to the city and state it ends up in, just as the headquarters in Seattle has served as a huge driver of their economic growth.  

The benefits of Amazon opening HQ2 in Atlanta are projected to include:
• 50,000+ high paying jobs created
• Generating 5 Billion in real estate investment
• Increased funding for the educational system, including new schools
• Improvements in transportation links and transportation infrastructure

Additionally, Amazon’s presence would also help generate a lot of new supporting businesses.  For Atlanta, this could help grow our business and tech community, which includes small businesses”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

Amazon is searching for talent in software development and related fields. What is your city’s tech scene like?

“Atlanta has an awesome tech scene.  Not only are we home to many tech-forward companies, but we offer a thriving environment for tech startups.  Atlanta metro is home to a number of technology incubators and accelerates helping propel these companies’ success including Atlanta Tech Village and Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech.   

Georgia can support the creation of new jobs, including for software development.  We have top talent graduating from schools’ including Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Emory, and Morehouse College.  According to HiringSolved, in 2016 Georgia Tech ranked 6th in the U.S. for most alumni working at Silicon Valley companies, and we’d love to keep that talent in Georgia”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

How will the community welcome Amazon HQ2?

“Atlanta’s #PrimeUpATL campaign is showing that Amazon HQ2 is getting a lot of support from Atlantans.  People are excited to see the continued growth of our city in a variety of industries including film, automotive, and technology.  
If Amazon HQ2 chooses Atlanta, I think they’d see an overwhelming amount of support from the entire state”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

‘Atlanta is finally growing in a very good way. The city experienced a boom of transplants after the 96 Olympics. Lately, it’s been experiencing a boom of new companies and headquarters’, spoke CEO Lilian M Raji of The Lilian Raji Agency. The community have been kindly welcoming in new businesses ever since the famous notice and will continue to do the same for Amazon. 

Image From Georgia Department of Economic Development

Do you support the major’s proposal? Why, or why not?

“Georgia has offered an aggressive package to encourage bringing Amazon HQ2 to Atlanta.  
Our state’s Commissioner of Economic Development, Pat Wilson, has done an outstanding job of leading a unified effort, across the region, to attract Amazon. I completely support Atlanta’s bid for HQ2”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

Besides financial incentives, what does your city offer?

“Atlanta offers a lot of things that make us a top contender for HQ2.  In addition to our top-tier high educational institutions and job talent, we have nationally ranked schools, a business-friendly, tech-driven culture, and low cost of living.

Atlanta is also a transportation hub for the southeast.  Three major Interstates cross through Atlanta, and we’re home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the largest international airport in the world.

Many Fortune 500 companies already call metro Atlanta home.  This includes The Home Depot, UPS, Coco-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Aflac, and Southern Company.  Mercedes-Benz USA recently opened their new North American headquarters in metro Atlanta, which followed Porsche opening a headquarters in Atlanta in 2015.  Georgia is also number 1 in feature film productions, with a film presence that is continuing to expand.

While we first made the international spotlight when we hosted the 1996 Olympics, our city is continuing to shine.  In 2019 we’ll host the Super Bowl, and we are currently being considered by FIFA to host the 2026 World Cup”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

‘Atlanta also has the busiest airport in the world, making executive travel here much easier.  And while I have a lot of issues with Delta, Delta has proven to be the best domestic airline amongst the major players and it’s based in Atlanta!’ from CEO Lilian M Raji  of The Lilian Raji Agency. 

Image by Hartsfield-Jackson via ABC.

What is in your city that isn’t found anywhere else?

“Atlanta is an extremely unique place to live and work.  We have a diverse population, including many transplants.  As a southern city, we’re known for our friendly hospitality.  Here we still wave to friends and strangers alike as they pass by.  We also offer an extremely great place to live, which is important to businesses as employees must like where they live if you want to retain talent.  People can find an area that fits their personality, such as the hipster vibe in Little Five Points, the small-town feel of Decatur, or the suburban areas in Alpharetta.  If you want high-end luxury shopping or top notch dining, head to Buckhead.

Our residents are warm, just like the sunshine.  Nicknamed, a “City in a Forest”, you can spend the days in the lush, green outdoors or out on the town.  Atlanta has also revitalized areas for urban redevelopment. The Atlanta BeltLine, which has gained national attention, is comprised of 22 miles of unused railroad tracks circling the core of Atlanta’s intown neighborhoods.  Other popular trail systems include Big Creek Greenway, which spans 20 miles, and The Silver Comet Trail, which runs 61.5 miles, ending on the Georgia/Alabama state line. All these projects have enhanced our connectively and communities.  

To echo Migos’ sentiments, Amazonians can go from “Raindrop to Droptops” if Amazon chooses Atlanta”. -Alex Membrillo of Cardinal Digital Marketing.

‘Atlanta has SPACE.  There is so much land available in the Atlanta area that a new company can design exactly the type of headquarter they want to build.  As much as I love New York, New York can’t offer this’, says CEO Lilian M Raji of The Lilian Raji Agency.

If you are an agency from Atlanta, and wish to contribute, please fill out this form here: https://ownersmag.com/attention-marketing-pr-agencies-atlanta/

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