If Amazon decides to locate its second headquarters in central Indiana, local communities will benefit – even if the facility isn’t in Johnson County, officials said.
Residents from Greenwood, Franklin and other local communities could still commute to those jobs, and other businesses could decide to locate near Amazon, potentially coming here, local officials said.
That’s why both Greenwood and Franklin are working with the mayors of Fishers and Indianapolis to try to entice Amazon to come to central Indiana, bringing up to 50,000 jobs.
Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers is working on a presentation with details of where enough land would be available for the headquarters in Greenwood, but also promoting the workforce the area has to offer and nearby amenities. Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett also is putting together the same information about Franklin, including details about local workforce education programs at Ivy Tech and Franklin College, he said.
While both would love for Amazon to come to Johnson County, they also know that isn’t necessary for their communities to benefit, they said.
“No matter how you look at it, if it lands in the Indianapolis region, it’s a win for Greenwood, Whiteland, all of us,” Myers said.
Multiple central Indiana communities are working together to show off the entire region, Myers said.
He has been talking with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness on an overall presentation to be given to Amazon, with details from the other communities around Indianapolis, such as Greenwood, Myers said. Other communities, including Westfield and Noblesville, also are involved through the Central Indiana Council of Elected Officials.
“We are working really hard to make the Indianapolis region known nationally and internationally, and the only way we can do that is through collaborating with each other,” Myers said.
One of the key factors Amazon needs to know about is the available pool of workers because of the number of jobs it will bring, Myers said.
No Johnson County community individually would have enough residents to supply the workforce Amazon would need, but they can by pooling together with other communities with workers who are willing to commute, Barnett said.
In addition to employing current Greenwood residents, families also could move to the area to work for Amazon, Myers said.
“If it lands in the Indianapolis region, it will have a big impact,” Myers said.
