It’s unclear how Amazon’s canceled New York deal will impact Virginia

Published February 14, 2019 by Michael O'Connor

Amazon’s plans in Virginia remain unchanged for now after the company canceled its HQ2 deal in New York City in response to political opposition.

It’s unclear what will become of the 25,000 jobs Amazon had planned to bring to the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens. The company referred all questions to a statement that said Amazon’s plans in Northern Virginia remain unchanged.

“We do not intend to reopen the HQ2 search at this time,” Amazon’s statement read. “We will proceed as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville, and we will continue to hire and grow across our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the U.S. and Canada.”

On Thursday afternoon, Arlington County Board Chairman Christian Dorsey said on a media call the county would not lobby for the jobs that would have gone to New York.

“We’re not changing what we want from Amazon,” Dorsey said. “We’re not going to make a play for any more.”

Last week, Gov. Ralph Northam signed off on legislation approving Virginia’s incentives package to Amazon. The deal includes $550 million in grants to the company for 25,000 jobs, with another $200 million if Amazon creates 12,850 more jobs. Northam’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday for this story.

Dorsey said Arlington’s board planned to make a decision March 16 on its local performance agreement with Amazon.

Asked if Arlington was open to a conversation about an even greater Amazon presence, Dorsey said: “If that materializes, then we’ll have that conversation.”

Speculation that Amazon’s New York deal was heading south surfaced last week. The New York Times last week reported that Virginia Economic Development Partnership CEO Stephen Moret said he wouldn’t be disappointed if Amazon shifted its New York jobs to Virginia though he had not heard the company had any plans to do so.

Moret said by email Thursday he was excited that Amazon’s plans for Virginia remain in place and that his office is in regular contact with company officials.

“I think the news reinforces one of Virginia’s strengths — that we offer a competitive, stable business climate,” Moret said.

JBG Smith, the main property owner of where Amazon is expanding in Arlington, declined to comment for this story.