Kansas City Bid for Amazon HQ2 Represents Largest Response Effort in Region's History

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kansas City region's proposal for Amazon HQ2 was delivered to the company's Seattle, Wash., headquarters today.  Led by the Kansas City Area Development Council, the bid represents the largest regional response effort in the area's economic development history based on the number of people involved and the scope of the information compiled.

Honoring Amazon's request for one response from each market, the KC region came together at an unprecedented scope of regional cooperation to create a proposal representing two states (Kansas and Missouri), 18 counties, and more than 50 communities from across the metro area. In addition, more than 200 private sector leaders provided crucial input, lent their expertise and contributed significant value throughout the process.

An online submission tool on the KCADC website received dozens of creative ideas from members of the community and outside of the KC region. Every idea was considered, many were incorporated into the region's proposal and several individuals who submitted ideas were further engaged in the process.

Joel Kotkin, internationally-recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends, and Richard Florida, the world's leading urbanist, international best-selling author and professor, provided significant research support and guidance for the KC region's Amazon HQ2 proposal.

"Kansas City is a jewel in the Heartland - with a great cultural heritage, affordable housing of all kinds and, most of all, a strong spirit of cooperation across the whole region. The next wave of American innovation seems poised to take place in the Midwest, and KC will be at the heart of it all," said Kotkin.

"Great regions are federations of neighborhoods, and Kansas City provides affordable options for living and working in a range of urban and suburban locations," said Florida. "The KC region has created a true community process and partnership … Kansas City will be well positioned to compete."

In addition to its affordability, quality of life and strong growth in key occupational sectors, KC offers something no other city can claim – a vision that is recasting education and reshaping the workforce of the future, led by the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, one of the world's largest private foundations focused on education and entrepreneurship.

"The Kansas City region's bid offers an uncommon approach and bold ideas that invite Amazon to imagine its future alongside ours and to take part in the many ways our region is leading the nation and world, from right here in the middle of the country," said Wendy Guillies, president and CEO, Kauffman Foundation.

Recommended urban and suburban Amazon HQ2 sites from the Kansas City market showcase the breadth of choice available to companies considering a KC location.

In a release from the State of Missouri earlier today, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens said, "Amazon is a company full of people who turn big ideas into reality. My team fully and equally supported the proposals submitted by our major metropolitan areas, Kansas City and St. Louis. We challenge Amazon to envision what it could achieve by partnering with us to unleash the combined strength of the entire state. We'd love to work with Amazon to build their new home here in Missouri."

"We have been preparing for an opportunity like Amazon's HQ2 for a generation. We want to create with Amazon the most prosperous and livable region in North America, right here in the heart of it. The Kansas City region recognizes the importance of redefining the workforce of the future through top notch education. We are building Amazon's next generation of pioneers to be both skilled and empowered and we're excited to redefine the next generation of talent with Amazon," said Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer.

"Kansas City, Kansas, has an unparalleled track record of bringing big projects to our community. From Google Fiber to Cerner, and even the National Soccer Training Center, we are a city that is proud of our business friendly, can-do attitude. We are happy to join forces with our regional partners to highlight our area's advantages to Amazon," said Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Mark Holland. 

"I believe Kansas City is competitive with any city in the world. I'm extremely proud of the bid produced by our team and how this entire community has embraced this unique opportunity to showcase Kansas City's creativity, its people and its potential," said Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James.

Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, said, "I am so proud of the level of community engagement and response that came together around this opportunity. Our proposal tells a compelling and comprehensive KC story that sets our region apart from all others across North America."

Given the highly competitive nature of the site location process and Amazon's required Non-Disclosure Agreement, no additional details of the Kansas City region's proposal will be available to the public.

About KCADC
The Kansas City Area Development Council serves the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area by marketing the region's business and lifestyle assets to companies around the world. KCADC ranks as the number one regional economic development organization in the nation based on a survey of its site location clients (DCI Winning Strategies Survey, 2017).

About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, the Kansas City region is recognized as "America's Creative Crossroads" as a center for technology and artistry. We are the region that gave birth to fiber connectivity (Sprint and later, Google Fiber), creative expression (Hallmark), consumer-led tax prep (H&R Block), modern day navigation (Garmin), the global animal health industry (Bayer), logistics and supply chain management (Kansas City Southern Railway and YRC) and electronic health records (Cerner). We design and build systems that supply 20% of the world's clean water, and sports venues from Seattle to Sochi. KC supports major league sports and is home to Children's Mercy Park, one of the most technologically advanced MLS stadiums in the world. We nurture breakthrough discoveries, "give back" philanthropically more than any community our size and passionately support the arts. 

www.thinkKC.com

SOURCE Kansas City Area Development Council

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http://www.thinkkc.com