Southern States May Have the Edge Bidding for Amazon's Second Headquarters

Amazon plans to spend $5 billion on a second headquarters in the U.S. that will employ 50,000 people. New data evaluates which cities are best suited for HQ2.

CNBC's analysis rated southern cities including Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro-High Point, North Carolina highest in the race for Amazon's HQ2, citing strong workforces and economies. Scarborough, Maine and Anchorage, Alaska ranked lowest due to populations lower than Amazon's required minimum population, 1 million.

The three largest metropolitan areas in the Tar Heel State benefit from a state with one of the best workforces in the country and a heritage of innovation dating back to the Wright Brothers. Counting against the state is a lack of mass transportation and a nagging lack of inclusiveness.

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