“The videos were created to help us introduce our community to Amazon in a way that text alone cannot do,” said Mike Meidel, director of Pinellas County Economic Development. “Amazon can experience the personalities of our leaders, hear what they have to say about why Tampa Bay would be a great fit for HQ2, and take a visual tour of our region. Our goal is to have Amazon imagine what it would be like for their people to live and work here and engage with our community leadership.”
Each video speaks to a specific decision driver Amazon outlined in their request for proposals (RFP). The first video, rolled out today, features City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn welcoming Amazon to our region and their respective cities and talking about why Tampa Bay would be a perfect fit for HQ2.
Another six videos will be rolled out over the course of the next two weeks, with testimonials from the following business, government, and community leaders:
- Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielders Justin Chavez and Marcel Schäfer
- Tom James, Chairman Emeritus of Raymond James
- Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida
- Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport
- Dr. Judy Genshaft, President of USF
- Dr. Ken Atwater, President of HCC
- Janet Long, Chair, Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
- Stacy White, Chair, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.
- Bob Dutkowsky, CEO of Tech Data
- Lee Evans, Site Executive & GM, Head of North America Capability Center, Head of Global Strategic Operations
- Ken Jones, Chairman and CEO, Third Lake Capital
The two sites proposed in the RFP in downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg offer Amazon the chance to build HQ2 in two of the most exciting and growing downtowns in America.
“Tampa Bay has the talent, quality of life, lower business costs and affordability that would make it an ideal place for Amazon’s HQ2,” said Craig J. Richard, president and CEO of Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “As these videos show, we tick all the boxes Amazon requires for its new HQ2 home: pro-business public sector leadership, a rich supply of talent and the ability to attract more of it, a diverse, welcoming, and tolerant community, excellent airport, and unbeatable quality of life. The best part about it is that all of these assets are found in a place that is much more affordable than other major markets Amazon may be looking at.”
The videos can be found on the social media pages of the respective economic development organizations’ Facebook and Twitter accounts:
Pinellas County Economic Development: Facebook, Twitter
St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation: Facebook, Twitter
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation: Facebook, Twitter
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