Every now and then cities experience events that serve as a clear line of demarcation between “then” and “now.” In the case of Amazon's search for a home for their new HQ2, the 20 finalists’ regional leaderships are actively seeking a major event that will change their area’s landscape for decades to come. As part of the process to attract and win the opportunity to host HQ2, the decision-makers and influencers involved in each region’s bids are putting plenty of thought into preparing for the changes facing their communities should Amazon choose their location as the winner. Fortunately, they all can look at Seattle as a living laboratory and business case to get a good idea of how life in their region is going to be impacted. Based on lessons learned to date from Seattle there are four major areas that most likely be at the forefront of the conversations surrounding the unique changes that will face the region hosting HQ2, as follows:
1. Rapid and Specific Demographic Population Growth