Why Amazon Should Choose Miami for HQ2

Yesterday, it was announced that Miami made Amazon’s top 20 list of potential cities for its second headquarters, HQ2. The new facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct and operate and will create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. Home to a diverse population that is entrepreneurial by nature, here’s why we think Miami is the perfect spot for Amazon’s HQ2:

– Jeff Bezos is a Miami Palmetto Senior High alumnus! In 1982, he was valedictorian, a National Merit Scholar and Silver Knight award winner, and he was already beginning to make big plans for his future. I guess you can say Miami molded him for success, so this is his opportunity to give back!

– Miami’s startup sector is booming! Just last year, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area ranked No. 1 among 40 of the largest metro areas in the country for startups.

– With over 2,000 daily nonstop flights to major cities across the United States and the world, Miami is considered one of the country’s most well-connected cities.

– With proximity and access to major markets, Miami’s multilingual workforce understands global business. Businesses in a multicultural city, like Miami, can draw employees from different backgrounds and experiences to create innovative ideas.

– Florida’s new Brightline regional train system will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach enabling passengers (and potential employees) to commute faster throughout South Florida.

– Home to hundreds of thousands of college students, Miami appeals to a vibrant millennial community. By being connected to the Internet throughout childhood and early adulthood, Millennials have a different perspective on how to lead, communicate and market.

As Amazon aims to stay competitive in the global marketplace, they should focus on a diverse, metropolitan region like Miami. With its history of welcoming all nationalities and languages, Miami is positioned to continue growing, and we hope it will do so with Amazon in its backyard.