JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville has submitted a proposal to Amazon hoping to lure the company's second headquarters to the River City.
Cities vying for the project, which was announced by Amazon in September, have until Oct. 19 to submit bids, according to a report earlier this month from the Financial News & Daily Record.
Amazon estimates its new $5 billion corporate headquarters would create at least 50,000 jobs with most demanding six-figure salaries, the Record reports.
Mayor Lenny Curry issued a statement highlighting Amazon's growing presence in Jacksonville as one of the reasons for the city's bid for the Seattle-based company's second headquarters.
He said Amazon has brought a record number of jobs to Jacksonville, along with building state-of-the-art centers and stations.
“My administration is keenly focused on economic growth and would like to see Amazon’s presence grow,” Curry wrote. “I strongly believe Jacksonville has all the attributes that make for a great place to do business -- including a strong labor force, a low cost of doing business, and a great quality of life.”
The city has not provided information about any possible incentives included in the Amazon proposal, and the company's confidentiality agreement with the state exempts any documents and information from public record.
Amazon has four facilities in North and West Jacksonville and pledged to hire 2,700 employees among two fulfillment centers, the Record reported.
The city and state pledged $26.7 million in taxpayer incentives in exchange for Amazon hiring 825 positions paying an average $50,000 a year. The bulk of its employees are distribution center workers making $12 to $16 an hour, according to the Record.