Startups
Economics / Municipal government

4 things we know about Philly’s Amazon HQ2 proposal

City officials announced some details Monday. They also published the first of a three-part video series highlighting different ways Philly “delivers.”

Brigitte Daniels, from Wilco Electronics and Mogulette, stars in the first vid. (Video by Leveler Media/City of Philadelphia)

If you’re reading this, you’ve undoubtedly heard (and heard, and heard) that Philly’s entering the national bid process to host Amazon’s massive second headquarters.

With the Oct. 19 deadline looming for cities to submit their HQ2 proposals, we’re now getting a sneak peek at what Philly’s pitching (and who’s doing the pitching). Today the City of Philadelphia gave some more insight on how the proposal is shaping up so far.

“In a little over a month, a large, varied group of Philadelphia-area residents and leaders rallied to support this bid, which showcases the region’s strong talent pool, strategic location, livability and room for growth,” a press release from the City reads.

Here’s what we know so far:

Who helped:

City officials said some 200 business leaders, including 76 (nice) from the startup community signed letters of support of gave testimonials in support of Philly as a good choice for the ecommerce giant. We knew from spokeswoman Lauren Cox that the Department of Commerce was leading the effort, with help from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and Select Greater Philadelphia.

When’s it being filed:

The city has put out a press advisory for an event featuring Mayor Jim Kenney immediately following the bid’s official submission, happening Thursday morning. At the event, Kenney will “thank the diverse coalition that made the Philadelphia region’s bid for Amazon HQ2 possible.” You better believe Technical.ly will be there.

City Council and Gov. Wolf back it:

The Philly pitch includes a City Council resolution encouraging Amazon to choose Philadelphia and statements from Gov. Tom Wolf and state representatives. City Council also introduced and passed a bill (currently in committee) which aims to add a chapter to the Philadelphia tax code in order to offer “an incentive for a New Megabusiness that chooses to locate in the City of Philadelphia by reducing the Business Net Income Tax rate to zero, all under certain terms and conditions.” Here’s the document.

There’s a creative aspect to it:

Some 30 Philadelphia representatives (think business leaders, artists and athletes) participated in a three-part video series that will be given to Amazon alongside the proposal. Skai Blue Media founder Rakia Reynolds is overseeing the creative elements of the Philly bid. “These videos are just the first taste of a comprehensive, immersive bid package that will be provided to Amazon.”

Here’s the first of the series — produced by Fishtown-based Leveler Media – centered around Philly’s strategic location in the Northeast and our transportation hubs (thought PHL has some work to do). It features Curalate CEO Apu Gupta, Mogulette founder Brigitte Daniel and Vanguard exec Bill McNabb:

Companies: Amazon / City of Philadelphia
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