Could Prime Air help land Amazon's second headquarters?

Could Prime Air help land Amazon's second headquarters?

Amazon is already investing nearly $1.5 billion
to make NKY its Prime Air shipping hub

Amazon.com announced an opportunity Thursday that would make most any mayor or governor salivate: The Seattle-based retailer is looking to for a second headquarters that could employ up to 50,000 people in high-paying jobs like software development.

The only Kentucky regions that might meet Amazon's minimum criteria, including a metro area of 1 million people or more, are Louisville-Southern Indiana (1.3 million) and the Northern Kentucky, as part of the Cincinnati metro (2.2 million), notes public radio WDRB.

"It’s clear Amazon and Kentucky already enjoy a significant relationship as Amazon is one of the leading employers in the state's distribution and logistics industry," said Jack Mazurak, spokesman for Gov. Matt Bevin’s economic development cabinet.

Mazurak noted that earlier this year, Amazon said it would invest nearly $1.5 billion to make Northern Kentucky its Prime Air shipping hub.

"Clearly, this second headquarters will be welcome wherever the company decides to locate it," he said in a press statement, repeated by WDRB.

The company currently employs about 10,000 people in the state on a year-round basis and many more during the holidays.

“The Project must be sufficiently close to a significant population center, such that it can fill the 50,000 estimated jobs that will be required over multiple years,” Amazon said in a seven-page Request for Proposals made public Thursday. "A highly educated labor pool is critical and a strong university system is required."

But if Amazon chooses Northern Kentucky, CVG would have to make sure it has timely, daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport would appear to meet Amazon’s criteria with at least one direct flight to each of the cities mentioned.

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