Breaking News: Amazon Announces 20 Finalists for HQ2

Amazon announced today it has narrowed the list of possible locations for its second headquarters, HQ2, down to 20. Not surprisingly, the list features a number of metro areas in the Midwest and South, which are the most affordable regions of the United States, and steers away from what the New York Times referred to as “the tech-saturated hubs of the West Coast.”

Finalists: Amazon HQ2

Although many of the finalists were not surprising, given that they clearly met major stated criteria from Amazon including a population greater than 1 million and “the ability to attract and keep strong technical talent,” there are a few surprise omissions. Detroit, Michigan; Phoenix, Arizona, and San Diego, California did not make the list. Amazon also omitted all applicants from outside the U.S. with the exception of Toronto, Canada.

Below is the list of 20 finalists:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Austin, Texas
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Columbus, Ohio
• Dallas, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami Montgomery County, Maryland
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Newark, New Jersey
• New York, New York
• Northern Virginia
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Toronto, Canada
• Washington, D.C.

This is a developing story. Check Think Realty’s news and digital coverage regularly for more developments.