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Social media lit up Thursday morning with news that Amazon has named 20 cities—including Indianapolis—as finalists for its second U.S. headquarters.
The Seattle-based company's HQ2 project expected to cost more than $5 billion and create 50,000 high-paying jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.
"Way to go #Indy! Indianapolis named to @amazon's shortlist for its HQ2! Further proof our city is one of the nation's leading innovation centers," tweeted U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-7th District.
Way to go #Indy! Indianapolis named to @amazon's shortlist for its HQ2! Further proof our city is one of the nation's leading innovation centers. https://t.co/QxWqYTQXuN
— André Carson (@RepAndreCarson) January 18, 2018
And Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett tweeted that the central Indiana region's "unique combination of connectivity, quality of life, and affordable living has once again put us on the global stage."
"I am proud that Central Indiana’s unique combination of connectivity, quality of life, and affordable living has once again put us on the global stage." Read Mayor Joe's full statement on #Indy making the @amazon HQ2 shortlist. pic.twitter.com/4jUHwKIVKd
— Mayor Joe Hogsett (@IndyMayorJoe) January 18, 2018
Hogsett joined forces with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness to lead central Indiana's efforts to win the HQ2 project.
Fadness responded to the Amazon news with "Bam!!" and said "our metro is turning heads."
Bam!! Indy is top 20. Our metro is turning heads! https://t.co/tKsMdhpxz1
— Scott Fadness (@ScottFadness) January 18, 2018
Indy Chamber did much of the organization and hard work of the city's bid and the group was retweeting posts about the news on Thursday morning. And they were receiving congratulatory tweets as well.
"Seriously, everyone applaud the team over at @IndyChamber for this one," said Justin Harter, a writer and developer.
Seriously, everyone applaud the team over at @IndyChamber for this one. https://t.co/1Sv65foKMf
— Justin Harter (@jlharter) January 18, 2018
But Peter Dunn, better known as Pete the Planner, urged some caution about the exuberance, reminding his followers that Jeb Bush had been in the top 20 candidates in the GOP primary during the 2016 election.
Don’t get too excited Indy. Jeb! was in the top 20 of the 2016 election.
— Peter Dunn (@PeteThePlanner) January 18, 2018
U.S. Todd Young, R-Indiana, called Indiana "the best place to start, locate, or grow a business."
Great news! Indiana is the best place to start, locate, or grow a business. https://t.co/KLxy5BuuyW
— Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) January 18, 2018
Molly Martin, director of New America Indianapolis, part of a network of think tanks examining technology and its impact on American ideals, challenged Indy residents to think about the question: What three issues do you think the city must tackle were we to land it?
#Indianapolis made the Top 20 in the vetting process for the next @amazon HQ. Circle City types: what three issues do you think the city must tackle were we to land it? #thisis #amazonidol #AmazonHQ2 #newamericaindy @NewAmericahttps://t.co/GZJ1XLtHWJ
(Via @WTHRcom)— Molly G. Martin (@mollygmartin) January 18, 2018
Freelance journalist Adam Wren urged Amazon to go ahead and "proceed to checkout" by picking Indianapolis.
.@amazon You have placed the City of Indianapolis in your shopping cart. Proceed to checkout (1 item)?
— Adam Wren (@adamwren) January 18, 2018
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