WOODBRIDGE — Things got a little more exciting in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Region recently when the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Md. and Northern Virginia were named as finalists in the Amazon’s search for an east coast hub.
Dubbed “Amazon HQ2,” cities from all over the U.S. this past fall entered the contest, hoping the largest online retailer would choose their city, town, or county as the retailer’s second headquarters. The new offices would bring some 50,000 jobs to wherever the company decides to locate its HQ2. The second headquarters is billed as a complete equal to the company’s sprawling headquarters in Seattle.
Prince William County offered two sites for Amazon to consider: The first at Innovation Park outside Manassas, and the second at Potomac Shores near Woodbridge.
Amazon’s announcement noting “Northern Virginia” was vague. Prince William County spokesman Jason Grant said it’s unclear if the online retail giant will locate in the county.
But if a statement from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is right, probably not.
“A site straddling Fairfax and Loudoun counties is one of the northern Virginia locations that has been selected for further consideration as the company’s second headquarters. Fewer than 10 percent of the 238 sites proposed for “HQ2” is on the short list of locations that Amazon announced today.
As part of the northern Virginia proposal, Loudoun and Fairfax counties collaborated with developer Open-Rebees to submit the largest non-developed site on Metro that checks all of the boxes that Amazon and other corporate users want and need. As home to a major backbone of the Internet, a top-notch workforce and Washington Dulles International Airport, the two counties are convinced that northern Virginia has all of the assets needed to merit serious consideration.”
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart on Jan. 18 said the company if it locates in Northern Virginia, would most likely build at or near a Metro station.
However, there’s still a chance Prince William County could benefit from the 50,000 jobs, as well as other jobs that could be needed to support the Amazon employees. And, those new workers will need a place to live.
“If they do come to northern Virginia, it’s very possible that Prince William County could end up with a satellite facility,” said Stewart.
If they don’t come to Prince William, county officials made it clear they still want them in the Washington Metro Area.
Stewart says Prince William is doing OK without Amazon, and that he wouldn’t be inclined to offer up any tax breaks, anyway.
“Look, at the end of the day, we’re doing just fine. We’re getting a lot of investment into this county, and we’ve got very, very low unemployment. We’re going to treat Amazon like any other business,” said Stewart. “Now, if you’re going to ask whether Prince William County will participate in any sort of subsidy, or anything like that, no. I would be opposed to that anyway.”
The county has been successful in attracting new development from health care providers like Kaiser Permanente, which will develop a new 335,000 square foot southern medical facility similar to its hubs in Baltimore and Tysons Corner. It will be located near the intersection of Minnieville and Caton Hill roads.
