Young, Donnelly Tout Indianapolis’ Growing Tech Community & Top Talent in Amazon Letter
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) sent a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos urging the company to locate its second North American headquarters in Indianapolis. Indianapolis was listed among the top final 20 cities Amazon is considering for its new $5 billion campus that will employ up to 50,000 workers. The Senators tout Indianapolis’ booming tech community, top talent, and Hoosier hospitality among the many reasons to do business in Indiana.
“Indiana continues to be recognized as one of the best states in the country to do business, and its booming tech community is well prepared to support Amazon’s growth,” the Senators wrote. “Students and businesses all over the world attend Indiana’s top colleges and universities, providing access to top talent in a growing metropolitan area. As tech investment is decentralized from Silicon Valley and the Northeast corridor, Indianapolis has developed an emerging tech sector. That’s why Salesforce and Infosys have joined Indiana’s growing tech ecosystem, which saw a 50 percent increase in venture capital dollars in 2017.”
To read the full letter, see below or click here.
Dear Mr. Bezos:
As U.S. Senators from Indiana, we are excited to see the City of Indianapolis listed as a finalist in Amazon’s ongoing search for the location of its future second headquarters (Amazon HQ2), and want to lend our strong support for the city’s bid and the opportunity for Amazon to expand its presence in the nation’s heartland.
Indiana continues to be recognized as one of the best states in the country to do business, and its booming tech community is well prepared to support Amazon’s growth. Students and businesses all over the world attend Indiana’s top colleges and universities, providing access to top talent in a growing metropolitan area. As tech investment is decentralized from Silicon Valley and the Northeast corridor, Indianapolis has developed an emerging tech sector. That’s why Salesforce and Infosys have joined Indiana’s growing tech ecosystem, which saw a 50 percent increase in venture capital dollars in 2017.
Moreover, the Global Traffic Congestion Index ranks Indianapolis as the seventh least congested city out of eighty cities measured in North America, and Indianapolis International Airport was recently ranked first in North America in the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality Awards. On top of that, the median home price in Indianapolis is $173,700 and the median rent price is $861.
As our state moniker proudly states, we are the Crossroads of America, and Indiana would provide Amazon with a superior location to grow. To that end, our state is already home to a number of Amazon fulfillment centers and thousands of Amazon employees. Indianapolis also boasts one of the largest and best convention centers in the nation, allowing for large events with the tech industry, vendors, and others to be held with ease. From our vibrant arts scene and many greenspaces; to the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts, and the Indianapolis 500 – the World’s largest single day sporting event; the quality of people in Indiana cannot be found anywhere else. Finally, beyond all of these great attributes, Indianapolis offers one thing that no other state can claim: Hoosier Hospitality.
Amazon offers Indianapolis the opportunity to inject unprecedented growth into the Hoosier community, and we know Indianapolis offers Amazon the opportunity to capitalize on its ongoing growth and success. Thank you for your consideration to make Indiana home to Amazon HQ2. We look forward to your company’s continued success in our state.
###