Marlborough, Neighboring Communities Bid for Amazon HQ2
Summary
The 495 CROSSROADS proposal offers Amazon a network of 10 area development sites, totaling 6,614,812 square feet, spread out across a 17-mile radius within the participating communities.According to the proposal, the 495 CROSSROADS offers unique proximity and access to top talent from more than 50 institutions of higher learning, including some of the nation’s best colleges and universities, in the Greater Boston and the Worcester areas.“We are close enough to Boston and Worcester to tap into the college infrastructure and startup ecosystem,” the proposal reads, “but far enough away to provide high quality of life, affordable housing, outdoor recreational opportunities, farmers markets, a local food scene, arts and culture, and classic New England town centers.” The proposal also cites the area’s business-friendliness and extensive experience in servicing large corporate entities, including GE Healthcare Life Sciences, WholeFoods, Hologic, EMC/DELL, Raytheon, Boston Scientific, Quest Diagnostics, The TJX Companies and Western Digital, as primary arguments for Amazon’s consideration.MEDC works with municipal and private investors to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization.All sites are located less than 2.5 miles from the interstate and provide intra-network access by car within 39 minutes.According to the proposal, the 495 CROSSROADS offers unique proximity and access to top talent from more than 50 institutions of higher learning, including some of the nation’s best colleges and universities, in the Greater Boston and the Worcester areas.“We are close enough to Boston and Worcester to tap into the college infrastructure and startup ecosystem,” the proposal reads, “but far enough away to provide high quality of life, affordable housing, outdoor recreational opportunities, farmers markets, a local food scene, arts and culture, and classic New England town centers.”The proposal also cites the area’s business-friendliness and extensive experience in servicing large corporate entities, including GE Healthcare Life Sciences, WholeFoods, Hologic, EMC/DELL, Raytheon, Boston Scientific, Quest Diagnostics, The TJX Companies and Western Digital, as primary arguments for Amazon’s consideration.“The 495 CROSSROADS is already a thriving technology and innovation corridor, where Marlborough alone hosts about 30% of the state’s technology jobs,” said MEDC executive director, Meredith Harris.
