College Park will make its pitch for Amazon’s second headquarters.
The proposal is a longshot, as nearly every municipality in the country that even remotely meets the qualifications is putting in a bid.
But the proposal makes a strong case that the town meets Amazon’s criteria.
Population: Amazon wants a metropolitan area with more than a million people. That would include Washington, D.C., which is considered a strong contender since owner Jeff Bezos already has a home here.
Transit: Amazon is looking for good mass transit, low congestion and access to airports. College Park has a MARC commuter rail stop, a Metro station, the upcoming Purple Line, a small airport of its own and easy access to the area’s three regional airports.
Environment: Amazon wants a diverse area with an excellent college. The University of Maryland is the state’s flagship school and attracts a diverse student body. The under-construction Brendan Iribe Center shows the school’s potential.
“We hit the marks in every category–land availability, business friendly environment, labor force, logistics, cultural community fit and so much more,” said chief strategy officer Ken Ulman for the university.
The college will be pitching the Discovery District research park, which includes 2.7 million gross square feet of space and already counts as tenants the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Center for Weather and Climate Prediction and the America Center for Physics, among others.
Amazon already has a pickup location in College Park, and Amazon-owned Whole Foods recently opened in nearby Riverdale Park.