These 5 Cities Pulled Out All the Stops to Get Amazon's HQ2. They Didn't Make the Cut, But We Salute the Attempt. Because in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.'

By Nina Zipkin

Bloomberg | Getty Images

There was a flurry of excitement when Amazon announced in September that it was planning to open a new headquarters. Dubbed HQ2, the company said that it planned to invest more than $5 billion towards the construction and growth of the new campus, which would house an anticipated 50,000 new employees.

When you account for Amazon's impact on its homebase -- in a press release about the new HQ, the company said that from 2010 to 2016 it invested $38 billion into Seattle's economy -- it's no surprise that nearly as soon as the news was released that the race was on. Reportedly, Amazon got more than 200 bids on the project.

Many tried to see if they could convince Amazon that the company should choose them, throwing a hat in the ring in some fairly inventive ways. But for all their enthusiasm, the field has been considerably narrowed.

Amazon shared this week that it had settled on a group of 20 finalists, including Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Md.; Nashville; Newark; New York; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, N.C.; Toronto and Washington, D.C.

But we want to take moment, as progress marches on, to shout out the cities that tried, and failed, to capture the tech giant's attention. Because there is still glory in the attempt.

Birmingham, Ala.

In October, the city launched a campaign called Bring A to B. The city set up giant versions of Amazon packages and Amazon Dash buttons that when pressed would send tweets to Amazon extolling the virtues of Birmingham and why the company should choose it for HQ2.

Stonecrest, Ga.

The state's capital made the cut, but Stonecrest put in a real good faith, if slightly gimmicky, effort. The Stonecrest City Council voted in October to set aside 345 acres of land if the company chose the city for HQ2. The resolution asked the Georgia General Assembly to establish a city called -- wait for it -- Amazon on the land.

"There are several major U.S. cities that want Amazon, but none has the branding opportunity we are now offering this visionary company," Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said in a statement. "How could you not want your 21st century headquarters to be located in a city named Amazon?"

Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City opted not to go for a tax incentive but a five-star incentive. Mayor Sly James decided to purchase and review 1,000 products on Amazon and review them all, being sure to include pertinent information about why the company should choose the city for its next homebase. You can take a look at all of James's insights here.

Tucson, Ariz.

Tucson thought that it would make a case for itself by giving a gift of some iconic local flora, in the form of a 21-foot tall saguaro. The cactus was courtesy of Sun Corridor, an economic development group for Southern Arizona. "We wanted to make sure Mr. Bezos and his team notice us and send a message of 'we have room for you to grow here for the long term' -- nothing signifies that better than a saguaro," said Sun Corridor CEO Joe Snell in a statement.

Amazon unfortunately couldn't accept the giant plant, but it did get a new home at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Charlotte, N.C.

Everyone knows that Amazon does big business during the holiday season, but Charlotte's mayor, Jennifer Watson Roberts, decided to take that a step further by proclaiming Oct. 18 Prime Day, complete with the hashtag #CLTisPrimeDay. You know it's the real deal thanks to the official seal.
Nina Zipkin

BIZ Experiences Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at BIZ Experiences.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

By Amanda Breen
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel
Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

By Carl Stoffers
Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

By Ray Titus
Starting a Business

3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Founded a Company 20 Years Ago

If I could sit down with a new B2B founder today, these are the three conversations I'd make sure we had — the same ones I wish someone had with me early on.

By David Boice
Data & Recovery

We Found Four of the Top Alternatives to Dropbox That Don't Have Monthly Subscription Fees

All last for life, and not one of them is more than $200.

By BIZ Experiences Store