Get an exclusive first look inside Metropolitan Park, the first phase of Amazon's HQ2 - About Amazon

Today Panzer made a trip to the About Amazon site. With a little digging he found a post about Amazon's HQ2.

 

It really is a nice park.

John Schoettler, Vice President of Amazon's Global Real Estate and Facilities, post uses photos, quotes and descriptions to give a tour of Amazon's new Metropolitan Park in Arlington, Virginia. There's also a 45 second YouTube video about constructing the buildings. This is the first phase of Amazon's new HQ2.

Panzer says, "That's a nice park right in the middle of things."

Note: Because of all the photos this is a huge post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you tour the new buildings.

To read the post about Amazon HQ2 tootle over to Amazon Headquarters

Amazon Picks NYC, Arlington, Va., as New HQ Sites - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was shaken from his morning nap by clapping and cheering and crying and moaning. Following all the confusing noises took our sleepy kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. There the top post about Amazon explained all the frenzy.

You already knew it, right?

According to Jim Milliot,  Amazon announced the choice of location(s) for their second headquarters (HQ2). Not surprisingly since there have been rumors flying for weeks, there will actually be two parts to the new HQ2. Half will be built in Long Island City, NY, with 25,000 employees there and half will be built in Arlington, VA, with 25,000 employees there. In addition, Amazon will have a smaller location in Nashville, TN, with 5,000 employees for their operations business center. Why two locations for HQ2? Because each location will give the company large tax incentives to build there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... All that wait time for what was one of the worst kept secrets ever ... You know, by now it's not even news."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon HQ2

Cities' Offers for Amazon Base Are Secrets to Many City Leaders - The New York Times

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the The New York Times site. There our kitty pilot found a post about Amazon's Headquarters 2 search.

According to the post by Julie Creswell, the search for a location for Amazon's Headquarters 2 (HQ2) is draped in more secrecy than suspected. There are 20 cities in the running for HQ2's location. It turns out, however, that 18 of those 20 city councils and city leadership have no idea what is being offered to get the HQ2. The project bids were put together by groups which aren't required to make the terms available to the public. So, the tax payers in the city which wins the HQ2 bid won't know what it will cost them until they win. Several quotes from different cities' leaders about housing, employees as well as costs are included in the post.

Just reading all that makes me want a nap.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It's kind of like buying ocean front property in Arizona without ever seeing it."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon HQ2

Local governments won't say what they're offering Amazon - AP News

Today's trip took Panzer to the AP News (Associated Press) site. There with no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's second headquarters (HQ2).

According to the post by Josh Cornfield, Amazon has promised to choose the location for their second headquarters (HQ2) by the end of this year. By the 2017 deadline 238 proposals were received  from different states, cities and districts in North America. Each is hoping to get Amazon's promised 50,000 jobs. They're willing to give Amazon tax breaks, grants and incentives to get those jobs, but most are not willing to discuss they're individual offers. The post names three cities who were willing to disclose their offers. The other states,cities and districts either refused (for different reasons) to disclose anything or didn't bother to respond.

I've got an answer for any problem.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have all these big secrets from each other about what they're doing to woo Amazon? Everybody knows, nothing says I love you like a dead mouse on the pillow in the morning."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Amazon Expands with New Fulfillment Center in Michigan, Creating 1,000 New Full-Time Jobs - Press Release

Panzer made a quick trip to the Amazon press communications site. There our inquisitive kitty found a press release about Amazon's new Michigan fulfillment center.

According to Amazon's press release, the company has opened a 1 million sq. ft. fulfillment center warehouse in the Charter Township of Shelby, Michigan. Amazon will employ 1,000 local full-time employees. In addition to health and disability insurance, these employees also have access to retirement savings plans and company stock. Amazon will also pay up to 95 percent of an employee's tuition for in-demand degree training. The press release includes a link to information on how to apply for employment with Amazon.

It's a fun to try to guess, isn't it?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty is wondering, if Detroit, Michigan, might be under consideration for Amazon's second North American headquarters (HQ2)? The press release does say Amazon already has a corporate office in Detroit."

Note: This is a shortish-medium length press release. Bring a cup of cocoa and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon fulfillment center

To read the post about Amazon's hunt for a second headquarters (HQ2), tootle over to Amazon HQ2