Amazon shortlists 20 metropolitan areas for new headquarters

Amazon has released a shortlist of the 20 North American urban areas to be chosen to become the retailer’s second North American headquarters.

The proposed site is expected to cost more than $5bn (£3.6bn) and create 50,000 jobs. Cities across the US have placed bids for the contract.

“Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough,” the Seattle-based online shopping giant said in a statement.

Toronto was the only non-US city to make it to the list.

The others are Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Washington DC.