Appendix 1

Amazon’s estimation of the local benefits of its Seattle HQ (HQ1) ¹²⁴

Direct:

• 40,000 employees.
• 233,000 annual hotel nights by visiting “Amazonians and guests” (2016 figure).
• $43 million “paid into the city’s public transportation system as employees’ transportation benefit”.
• 24 restaurants/cafes within the HQ and eight other services.
• $25.7 billion “compensation to employees”.

Indirect:

• Estimated 53,000 indirectly created jobs as a result of Amazon investment.
• $38 billion of indirect investment as result of Amazon investment.
• $17 billion “increase in personal income by non-Amazon employees as a result of Amazon’s direct investments”.
• Increase from 7 (2010) to 31 (2017) Fortune 500 companies with engineering/R&D centres in Seattle.

Appendix 2

Amazon HQ2 location criteria

In inviting bids for HQ2, Amazon expressed a “preference” for:

• “Metropolitan areas with more than one million people”.
• “A stable and business-friendly environment”.
• “Urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent”.
• “Communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options”. ¹²⁴

In addition, the “ideal site” was described as:

• No more than 30 miles to a major “population centre”.
• Within approximately 45 minutes of an international airport.
• No more than two miles from major highways and arterial roads.
• Having access to “mass transit” (“rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes”)
  at site.

Amazon also provided a list of “key preferences and decision drivers” for their prospective location, including:

• “A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure”.
• “Incentive programs available for the Project at the state/province and local levels… (i.e. land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions)… the initial cost and ongoing cost of doing business are critical decision drivers”.
• Access to “a significant population centre” with “a highly educated labour pool… and a strong university system”.
• Infrastructure connectivity for both people and goods, and direct connecting flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area and Washington, D.C.
• A rapid timetable for development permits and zoning laws.
• A “cultural community fit”, consisting of “the presence and support of a diverse population”, supportive local government and high-quality higher education institutions.
• An overall high quality of life offering – “we want to invest in a community where our employees will enjoy living”.
• “Relevant crime data” was also requested. ¹²⁴