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Georgia city to rename itself 'Amazon' if company brings new HQ

By Ray Downs
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos attends a meeting of technology leaders at Trump Tower in New York City on December 14, 2016. This week, lawmakers in Stonecrest, Ga., said they would change the name of their city of Amazon moves its new headquarters there. File Photo by Albin Lohr-Jones/UPI
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos attends a meeting of technology leaders at Trump Tower in New York City on December 14, 2016. This week, lawmakers in Stonecrest, Ga., said they would change the name of their city of Amazon moves its new headquarters there. File Photo by Albin Lohr-Jones/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 3 (UPI) -- As cities around the United States compete to lure Amazon's second headquarters campus, lawmakers in one Georgia city are offering to rename the town "Amazon" if the e-commerce giant builds there.

Amazon announced recently it will search for a location to build its second U.S. headquarters.

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In addition to agreeing to rename the city, Stonecrest's city council voted to de-annex 345 acres of land, which is almost double the 175 acres Amazon says it would need for the new campus, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

"There are several major U.S. cities that want Amazon, but none has the branding opportunity we are now offering this visionary company," said Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary. "How could you not want your 21st century headquarters to be located in a city named Amazon?"

In addition to the land, Amazon has said it is looking for a location that is close to an international airport and accessible through public transit. Stonecrest is less than 30 miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport and Lary said it would be possible to extend rail service if Amazon chooses his city.

"We have all of those qualities as well with [Metro Atlanta Rail Transit Authority] rail planned to our community, interstate improvements under way and a highly-educated work force eager to see the company locate here," Lary said, according to WXIA.

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The new Amazon headquarters is expected to create 50,000 jobs with an average salary of $100,000 per year -- plans that have led many cities to pitch themselves to the tech company, including Gary, Ind., which bought a full-page ad in The New York Times, and Washington, D.C., which produced a 90 second promotional video.

Cities have until Oct. 19 to send in their pitches to Amazon.

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