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WEBVTT AL MADE BY NEWHAMPSHIRE.WMUR'S MIKE CRONIN HAS MORE.MIKE: LANDING AMAZON'S SECONDHEADQUARTERS IN NORTH AMERICAHAS CREATED A BUZZ INCOMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRYVYING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY, ANDLONDONDERRY IS ONE OF THEM>> MORE BUSINESS THE BETTER.COULD USE THE BOOST TO THEECONOMY IN THE AREA.I THINK IT'S A GREAT AREA.A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY. >> I THINK IT'S EXCITING.IT WOULD BRING A LOT OF JOBSINTO THE TOWN.IT'S A NICE LITTLE TOWN.NEW HAMPSHIRE COULD USE THEMONEY. MIKE: THE ONLINE RETAIL GIANTPROMISES TO INVEST $5 BILLIONAND BRING UP TO 50,000 JOBS.NEW HAMPSHIRE IS TRYING TO GETITS ATTENTION.>> NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS ALL OF THEBENEFITS OF BOSTON WITHOUT THEHEADACHES.WITHOUT THE TRAFFIC, WITHOUT THETAXES, WITHOUT THE BUREAUCRACY,BUT STILL BEING ABLE TO DRAW OFFTHE MOST TALENTED WORKFORCE POOLIN THE WORLD. MIKE: IF AMAZON COMES TOLONDONDERRY, IT WOULDN'T INCLUDEANY ADDITIONAL TAX BREAKS ORINCENTIVES.THE PROPOSAL RELIES ON NEWHAMPSHIRE'S BUILT IN ADVANTAGES.AMONG THEM, THE LOCATION.NEW HAMPSHIRE WOULD PLACE AMAZAT LONDONDERRY'S WOODMONTCOMMONS DEVELOPMENT, CLOSE TOTHE AIRPORT, WITH ITS OWNPERSONAL EXIT OFF I-93THAT WILL GO IN MIDWAY BETWEEN>> EXIT 4 AND EXIT 5, NAMED EXIT4A AND WE'RE HOPING THE 'A'STANDS FOR AMAZON. MIKE: DESPITE THE ECONOMICBENEFITS, THERE IS SOME CONCERNOVER WHAT IT WOULD MEAN ON THEROADS.>> IN A WAY, I COMMUTE UP ANDDOWN 93.I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT IT, BUTFOR NEW HAMPSHIRE I THINK IT'D

Advertisement Sununu details pitch to bring Amazon’s ‘HQ2’ to Londonderry Governor outlines plan to lure Amazon to Woodmont Commons Development Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Gov. Chris Sununu hopes to lure online retail giant Amazon to the rapidly growing town of Londonderry.In a joint press conference on Wednesday morning, Sununu, his economic development team and officials from Londonderry discussed the idea to offer Amazon space in the pre-approved and shovel-ready Woodmont Commons Development off Interstate 93.>> Download the FREE WMUR appAmazon is in the process of a nationwide search for what it calls “HQ2,” or its second headquarters, which could bring up to 50,000 jobs wherever it lands.There is going to be cutthroat competition for "HQ2" regionally, as Boston and several other Massachusetts locations are in the running.Sununu unveiled the pitch to Amazon ahead of the company's Thursday deadline."New Hampshire has all of the benefits of Boston without the headaches. Without the traffic, without the taxes, without the bureaucracy, but still being able to draw off the most talented workforce pool in the world," he said.The pitch relies heavily on New Hampshire's built-in advantages, offering no tax breaks or incentives to sweeten the deal."We are not going to be giving Amazon anything more than what we've given to any other employer that's come to New Hampshire," said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of Business & Economic Affairs.Londonderry town officials said the Woodmont Commons site is a prime location, close to cargo shipping at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and it already has its own dedicated exit off I-93 approved."That will go in midway between Exit 4 and Exit 5, named Exit 4A, and we're hoping the 'A' stands for 'Amazon,'" Londonderry Town Councilor Tom Dolan said.The governor said he likes the Granite State’s chance."One of the most important aspects of this plan is it wasn't some bureaucrats sitting in the room and the governor going and making a single pitch. This is a plan that was put together with the input and directive of the business community, of the university system, of the stakeholders, of the surrounding towns," Sununu said.Bringing Amazon to New Hampshire would be a game-changer in many ways.Sununu has long been a skeptic of expanding commuter rail to New Hampshire, but he said if Amazon is willing to move its second headquarters in Londonderry, he would reconsider his position."In terms of the rail, absolutely that's on the table. Rail has been studied, rail has been proposed, and if Amazon wants to come and we can accelerate those plans then that's absolutely on the table," Sununu said.Area residents expressed optimism about what Amazon coming to Londonderry could mean for southern New Hampshire.“The more business, the better,” said Greg Ormand, of Derry. “Could use the boost to the economy in the area. I think it's a great area. A lot of opportunity.”“I think it's exciting,” said Deanna Purdy, of Londonderry. “It would bring a lot of jobs into the town. It's a nice little town. New Hampshire could use the money.”Even those concerned about traffic said they felt there would be an overall benefit to the state.“In a way, I commute up and down 93,” said Ed Dishong, of Francestown. “I don't know if I want it, but for New Hampshire, I think it'd be a great opportunity.”