Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
CM/DCM/ACM: Bryan Langley
Date: October 11, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the response to the Amazon HQ2 Request for Proposals (RFP).
Body
BACKGROUND
Amazon estimates its second headquarters location (HQ2) will bring a $5 billion investment and 50,000 high-paying jobs to the city that lands the project. The Request for Proposals (RFP) released by Amazon on Sept. 7 details what the company is seeking in a future location.
When responding to any RFP, the first step is to determine whether the project is in line with Denton's target industries and other preferences for pursuing a company. In this case, the answer is a resounding yes - not because of the size of the project, but because it meets the following criteria stated in the Council-adopted 2016 City of Denton Policy for Tax Abatement and Incentives:
* Is in the target industry of information technology
* Meets stated goals of development and diversification of the economy and expansion of primary employment
* Meets the following factors: creation of high-skilled, high-paying jobs; will involve a significant relationship with Denton's universities;
* Is a national headquarters facility
* Renewable energy will be generated, stored, or utilized for the project on an ongoing basis
After determining that the project meets Denton's requirements, we make sure we meet the project's basic requirements. Amazon's site requirements are:
* Within 30 miles of a population center
* Within 45 minutes' drive of an international airport
* Not more than 1-2 miles from a major highway
* Direct access to transit (rail, train, bus, subway)
* Greenfield site of more than 100 acres or an existing building of 500,000 square feet or options for infill redevelopment or a combination of these
Since Denton meets all those core requirements, we then move on to how Denton matches up with Amazon's key preferences and decision drivers....
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