Amazon plans to split its major second headquarters in North America between Queens, New York, and Arlington County, Virginia, according to reports.
After spending a year looking for a home for HQ2, the retail giant now intends to set up two bases, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
Long Island City ? a burgeoning riverside neighbourhood in the New York borough of Queens ? and the Crystal City area close to Washington DC are Amazon's chosen locations, according to the New York Times, which spoke with two people "briefed on the discussions".
New York governor to do "everything" to secure HQ2
New York state is making major efforts to sway Amazon's decision, including offering "potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies". Talks are already underway between Amazon executives, New York governor Andrew Cuomo ? who comfortably won his third term yesterday ? and mayor Bill de Blasio to secure Long Island City, the sources told the newspaper.
The Crystal City area close to Washington DC (this image) and New York's Long Island City (main image) will reportedly share Amazon's HQ2. Photograph by Splat 215
"I am doing everything I can," Cuomo told a group of reporters. "We have a great incentive package."
"I'll change my name to Amazon Cuomo if that's what it takes," he added.
Amazon began the hunt for the HQ2 site, to accompany its first in Seattle, in September 2017. The aim was to find a metropolitan area ...