By Russ Wiles | The Republic
Amazon’s very public search for a second headquarters has set off a scramble among civic, business and political leaders around the country as they attempt to lure one of the biggest-ever corporate expansions.
The highly publicized contest, which closes Thursday, has stoked urban pride as well as urban insecurities, as municipalities evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in hopes of landing up to 50,000 high-paying jobs and an incalculable boost in prestige.
“It’s kind of unusual in that it’s a very public competition,” said Kevin Sullivan, a senior vice president at the Arizona Commerce Authority, during a recent economic-development conference. “It’s a free-for-all.”
