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Delaware reveals elements of Amazon bid

Sarah Mueller
Gov. John Carney

Delaware shared details of its bid to land Amazon’s second North American headquarters Thursday.

Gov. John Carney unveiled pieces of the pitch in Wilmington along with local officials and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

The Seattle-based online retailer says it will spend $5 billion to build its HQ2 and employ up to 50,000 employees.

It’s looking for a location near big population centers, major airports and highways.

Gov. Carney wouldn’t reveal what financial incentives Delaware is offering. But he concedes it isn’t able to deliver the kind of money the bigger states can. So it has to compete in other ways.

“We’re right here in the Northeast corridor with large populations from Washington D.C. to Boston through New York City - the financial capital, the government capital of the country, so we have a lot to offer,” he said. "We have to win the day on our cost-of living, on our favorable tax and regulatory environment, on the beautiful beaches and quality of life that we have."

Amazon is seeking a space that’s at least 11 and a half acres up to 183 acres. Carney is proposing three sites in Delaware that meet Amazon’s criteria.

They include the 425 acre First State Crossing in Claymont, an 82 acre site on Wilmington’s Riverfront and an 82 acre portion of the AstraZeneca complex in Fairfax.

While the bids were due Thursday, Carney said he doesn’t know how long it will take Amazon to analyze all the offers.

The mayor of Wilmington, New Castle County and several large Delaware businesses sent letters to Amazon supporting the state’s bid.

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