Amazon reportedly planning to split HQ2 between two cities

Amazon is reportedly planning to split its second headquarters evenly between two cities, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter. The decision represents a twist in a firms year-plus search that has attracted bids from metropolitan areas all over the US.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Dallas, Long Island City in New York and Arlington, Virginia are all among the finalists that are in advanced talks with Amazon. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, could not confirm if any other cities are still in the running, or which two are expected to win.

Amazon first announced its plans for a second headquarters back in September 2017, sparking a bidding frenzy among cities hoping that the firms new facility would bring jobs and investment. The company is reporedly planning on spending over $5bn (£3.8bn) to create HQ2, and will hire up to 50,000 people to staff it.

Analysts have suggested that one of Amazons key reasons for building HQ2 is to attract more talent in areas where it is competing with other high-tech firms, like cloud computing and voice recognition. With a choice of head offices and a much wider pool of potential employees to draw from, Amazon wouldnt face such stiff competition from companies like Facebook, Google and others.

A split HQ2 would also help Amazon avoid some of the criticisms that have surrounded its Seattle headquarters, which has driven up congestion and the cost of living in its home town. Two smaller campuses would result in a lower impact on the surrounding area, while also allowing Amazon to potentially access the tax incentives and other benefits offered by two new sites.