An exciting question has flooded much of the local tech and business news in Austin lately: Will Amazon set up its second headquarters – Amazon HQ2 – in Austin, Texas?
According to trusted data-driven sources like Moody’s Analytics, which predicts Austin as the most likely place for Amazon’s new location, Austinites have room for confidence.
When Amazon announced the imminent construction of HQ2, their statement was left open-ended. Instead of declaring a location, Amazon’s announcement came in the form of a request for cities to volunteer their metro areas to Amazon’s decision makers.
As you’d expect, cities across North America threw their hands in the air, volunteering diverse metro-areas with hopes of seizing Jeff Bezos’ attention. Amazon now has a pool of prospective locations to choose from as the team considers where to begin construction for HQ2’s location.
If Amazon’s corporate success and fame weren’t enough to grab the public’s attention, the opening lines of their request did the trick:
“Amazon HQ2 will be Amazon’s second headquarters in North America. We expect to invest over $5 billion in construction and grow this second headquarters to include as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs – it will be a full equal to our current campus in Seattle. In addition to Amazon’s direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of Amazon HQ2 is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community.”
Among other incentives, Amazon also pointed to its long track record of community involvement, investment in local environmental sustainability, and empowerment for local entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Major cities across the U.S. collectively salivated, it’s safe to say. Stonecrest, GA, for example, promised that if Amazon chooses their city as its new headquarters, then Stonecrest will officially change its name to – you guessed it – Amazon!
Austin isn’t that desperate, but our enthusiasm is also no secret. And according to Moody’s data, our city proves the most likely candidate for Amazon HQ2.
Here’s some of what Moody Analytics considered to predict Austin as Amazon’s most likely location-candidate:
Local talent
Amazon’s request posited a need for “strong local and regional talent—particularly in software development and related fields.”
It’s no surprise that Austin has been a leader in the tech industry. With so many tech giants – Apple, HomeAway, Dell – present with large offices or headquarters in the area, it’s easy to see why Amazon might also consider the 512-area code a good fit. The city has become a magnet for tech and business talent.
Not to mention, top university like the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, and Saint Edward's University mean Amazon will have ample opportunity to pick from the best and brightest as they graduate into various fields.
A strong business environment
Amazon also requested an advantageous business setting. It needs “a stable and business-friendly environment to continue hiring and innovating on behalf of our customers.”
Austin’s business sector bodes well for Amazon. With Texas’ many business incentives and Austin’s economic growth taken into consideration, there is no place that better fits Amazon’s innovative needs.
And Amazon already maintains a recent and popular presence in the Austin area. Since Jeff Bezos’ recent purchase of Whole Foods Inc., which is headquartered on 6th street in Austin, locals have reaped lower prices at one of the area’s most popular grocery stores.
Quality of life
It’s not enough to have access to a strong work force. Amazon wants a location that fosters a good life for its future HQ2 team. And since Austin frequently ranks #1 in national magazine articles about the best place to live, one could say that Austin is a prime location for Amazon’s HQ2.
If you’re going to find happiness, experience well-being, maintain a healthy lifestyle, enjoy diverse cuisine, and have a roaring good time, Austin is the place for you.
Are you a business owner considering moving your headquarters to the Austin area? A JB Goodwin agent can help you find the optimal commercial property for your business to buy or rent. With startups, established business, and a booming academic sector, Austin is a strategic place for your business to hit the ground running. Let one of our agents help you find the right office for your team.
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