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The long wait is over.
Amazon is in talks to build its second headquarters, HQ2, in the Long Island City neighborhoods of Queens, New York, and in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, the New York Times reported Monday night. citing people close to the plans.
This decision follows more than a year of speculation and pressure from communities in the United States and Canada.
Amazon will probably now work on the construction and planning of its new headquarters. The group hopes to have at least a portion of the new campus operational by 2019.
The saga of HQ2 began in September 2017, when the company officially launched its call for proposals. In the application, Amazon has promised 50,000 jobs and $ 5 billion of investment to the new host city. Almost every major metropolitan area in the United States has made a name for itself.
Amazon had brought the list back to 20 by December but has barely made the round of the selection process.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the online business giant had decided to build its second headquarters in two different cities, with 25,000 employees on each campus.
The Times' report later in the day seems to have confirmed it, but adds that the two selected areas are likely Long Island City and Crystal City. The Times' report also confirmed that the deal was about to be finalized.
Read more: Amazon plans to crown 2 winners of QG2, with 2 new headquarters located in different locations
Selecting two cities looks like a curve because it was not part of Amazon's plan for HQ2.
Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request as to whether it had made a final selection. He declined to comment on the Times reports.
The evidence had long been pointing to the metropolitan area of Washington, DC, which had submitted three separate regions for review. Amazon joined the DC Chamber of Commerce in August. Add to that the fact that Amazon already has its public policy and lobbying activities in the district, and the capital of the United States seemed to be a shoo-in.
In recent months, betting odds had literally shifted around northern Virginia. The region is in what has been called the "center of gravity of the American Internet", which increases its chances. A local news site called ARLnow.com said that it had witnessed an unusual increase in Amazon's traffic. In December, an article titled "County Wins Top Environmental Award" awarded by the US Green Building Council explained that Arlington County, Virginia, was the first in the United States to be selected for a prize in the US. ;environment.
There had been less speculation about New York City, but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced his desire to host Amazon.
"I'm going to change my name to Amazon Cuomo if that's what's needed," Cuomo told reporters on Monday. "Because it would be a great economic boost."
According to NY1, Cuomo reportedly met with Amazon executives in Seattle two weeks ago, and is willing to meet them again to try to close the deal.
Once Amazon has confirmed the selections, it will begin the tedious work of working with local business leaders to integrate into the community.
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