The competition to host the second headquarters of Amazon.com, dubbed HQ2, is already being called the “Corporate Olympics” as qualified cities across North America flex their economic development muscles to respond to the penultimate RFP decathlon.To show their mettle, the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) must have a population of over one million, possess a well-educated workforce with the academic chops to staff what is likely to be another 50,000 jobs, offer close proximity to cultural, recreational and leisure time activities, and have a speedy transportation infrastructure connecting mass transit with international airports, education and affordable housing. Oh, and the financial incentives will be considered in a medal round to be announced later.
The HQ2 beauty, brawn, brains and bridges pageant has already evoked a bevy of creativity among the contenders, buttering up Bezos and company with fantastical overtures on Twitter— the pre-qualifying heats in the cleverness category.
Perhaps the most far-flung fantasy of all will come from the harbor city of Seattle to float a proposal that would convert part of Puget Sound, perhaps a Channel Island, into an Amazon flotilla connected by locks and salmon ladders to the University of Washington and the co-ventured GIX Insititute in China.
Here’s a salvo of tweets from cities across America touting why they are the ideal domains for Amazon.com.
The city of Tucson, AZ shipped a $2,000 Saguaro cactus to Seattle to send the message that its tax policies were not very prickly and its proposal could really hold water. Amazon sent it back, donating it to the Sonora Desert Museum, stating it could not accept gifts (not ordered by Alexa). 
Pittsburgh, PA seems like an early favorite and is working up a very steely proposal.
Tyson, VA. used its CAD/CAM software to construct Amazon’s new buildings virtually, representing offices for both red-leaning and blue-leaning workers.
Baltimore, MD also did some cyberscaping, transplanting the Amazon biospheres to Chesapeake Bay!
In a very cute video, the mayor of Washington D.C., home of two other Bezos acquisitions – the Washington Post and a stately mansion -is shown asking Alexa to do the region’s opening bidding.Powerpoints are due October 19th.
Message to contestants: There’s still time to call on Seattle24x7 for our sagacious insights. We’ve been reporting and critiquing Amazon since its inception, and consistently overfilling our Prime Pantry boxes to enjoy more of that Prime Amazon goodness. [24×7]
