Winnipeg places HQ bid

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This article was published 19/10/2017 (2380 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg is promoting itself as a “green,” centrally located and low-cost city with lots of amenities as it attempts to land Amazon’s second corporate headquarters.

Team Manitoba couriered five copies of its 66-page bid to Seattle on Tuesday to ensure it met Thursday’s deadline. An electronic bid, including a video and a letter from the premier and mayor, were submitted on Wednesday, said Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg.

She said the ball is now in Amazon’s court.

“I can tell you that Team Manitoba is mobilized. We’re ready to go. And whatever Amazon asks we will respond to,” Spiring said.

Included in the package, which boasts of Winnipeg’s connection to Winnie the Pooh and the fact that the cure for Ebola was discovered here, are tax and other financial incentives worth about $1.7 billion.

Spiring said the proposed incentives come mainly from existing programs that are already available to other businesses. Their value is based on the size of the investment Amazon is looking at as it establishes a second North American headquarters.

The online retail giant has proposed a US$5-billion facility that could employ up to 50,000 people.

Winnipeg’s bid is a co-ordinated effort of the city, the province and Economic Development Winnipeg.

“We are the geographic centre of North America with excellent transportation connections to the rest of the continent and the world,” Premier Brian Pallister said in a statement.

“For a combination of affordability and quality of life, I don’t think there’s a better place Amazon could pick both as a smart business decision and a healthy, fulfilling choice for its employees,” said Mayor Brian Bowman.

Bowman is featured with entrepreneur and former Blue Bomber Obby Khan in a three-minute promotional video that was included in Winnipeg’s bid.

“The video is a little bit quirky. It’s a little bit funny. But, hopefully, it will get people’s attention and really showcase what we have to offer,” Spiring said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Winnipeg Amazon Proposal Oct 2017