Governor Chris Christie said, “We have restored New Jersey’s status as a premier location for business, a fact demonstrated by every economic indicator — from eight years of steady employment growth and rising wages, to the historic number of new businesses filing annually to open in our state.”
“The Garden State is an epicenter of innovation with a burgeoning pool of tech talent, and we plan to make a compelling case to Amazon as they locate a second corporate headquarters,” Governor Christie added.
Michele Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of Choose New Jersey, said, “From our ideal location and highly educated labor pool to our world-class infrastructure and top-notch research universities, New Jersey offers inherent advantages to businesses operating in an increasingly global marketplace.”
“Together with the State’s powerful incentives and responsive government, New Jersey has a compelling case to make as we pursue this exciting opportunity,” Brown added.
The PFA reached out to the State’s 21 counties, encouraging each to work with respective municipal leaders to identify locations that meet the criteria established by Amazon in its RFP.
The State intends to submit the strongest possible proposal, identifying only those sites that meet all the main evaluative criteria set forth by Amazon.
This includes metropolitan areas with more than one million people; urban or suburban locations with a significant labor pool with expertise in computer software development and engineering, executive management, legal, and accounting; direct access to mass transportation on site; and, real estate and infrastructure to support a minimum 500,000 square feet of space that can expand over time to support up to eight million square feet.
Counties also were asked to provide an overview of the community and quality of life of the proposed location, focusing on available recreational opportunities, cultural amenities and other characteristics that make them unique.
EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said, “We view this as an opportunity to transform the State’s economic landscape, and a coordinated and comprehensive response to the RFP will allow us to put our best foot forward as we showcase why Amazon should choose to locate in New Jersey.”
“The PFA,” Orsen continued, “has successfully worked with local and county officials over the last seven years to spur business growth and expand employment opportunities, and we look forward to continuing this partnership as we seek what would likely be the largest corporate investment in our State’s history.”
The PFA has requested responses from interested parties by September 26 to ensure there is enough time to finalize one proposal on behalf of the State.
Responses that are not able to demonstrate an ability to meet the core preferences outlined in the RFP will not be included in the State’s submission.