BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- The race for Amazon's second headquarters in North America is getting tighter and Boston has survived the first round making it on the shortlist,.
The Seattle based e-commerce company announced Thursday that it has pared the list of cities vying for the headquarters to 19 in the U.S. and Toronto, Canada. Nearly 240 cities submitted proposals.
The company has vowed to spend $5-billion-dollars and employ 50,000 workers in the city where it's built.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh expressed enthusiasm upon learning the news:
"As a thriving city with a talented and diverse workforce, culture of innovation and opportunity for all, I see no better city than Boston for Amazon to call their second home." he said.
Amazon expects to decide on the winning city this year. The list of other cities left in the running are:
- Atlanta, GA,
- Austin, TX,
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO,
- Indianapolis, IN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Montgomery County, MD
- Nashville, TN
- Newark, NJ
- New York City, NY
- Northern Virginia, VA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Raleigh, NC
- Toronto, ON, Canada
- Washington, DC
Amazon already employs more than a thousand people in the Boston and Cambridge area.
The company is currently in discussions to lease an entire office building, maybe two in the seaport area.
WBZ NewsRadio Carl Stevens reports.