Amazon's surprise decision to cancel building its second headquarters in New York City opens up an opportunity for cities that finished behind the Big Apple in the bid process, Forbes notes.
Amazon on Thursday withdrew from an agreement it had to build an office complex and offer 25,000 jobs in Long Island City.
John Boyd, who helped in Amazon's HQ2 search, told Forbes there are plenty of other cities that could replace New York. Namely, Newark, New Jersey; Miami; Pittsburgh; Austin, Texas; and Columbus, Ohio.
"A lot of these markets were very optimistic that in the next 18 months you were going to see investment," Boyd said. "This announcement will throw gasoline on that fire. Projects might happen sooner rather than later."
Amazon pulled the plug on its New York City plans after local officials — including freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. — criticized the state for giving Amazon too many tax breaks.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat, was furious about Amazon's pullout.
A "small group [of] politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community — which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City — the state's economic future and the best interests of the people of this state," Cuomo said, Fox News reported.
Amazon is not officially looking for another city to house the rest of its HQ2, at least for the time being.