Brewster Suggests Potential Sites for Amazon HQ
Harrisburg – Sept. 28, 2017 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that he submitted a letter to a local development team that pointed to possible sites, buildings and venues in a variety of municipalities for inclusion in the response to Amazon’s “Request for Proposal” for the company’s second headquarters.
“We have to be collaborative and work cohesively so that Amazon gets a full understanding of the array of sites that are available in our region,” Brewster said. “There are plenty of locations in Southwestern Pennsylvania that are excellent sites and I am certain that the region’s application will be inclusive and strong.”
Brewster said he received information from the HQ2PGH team that asked development partners to submit potential buildings and sites. He sent the team recommendations of locations in his district knowing that they had the staff and expertise to reach out to local officials and follow up on his suggestions.
In the letter, Brewster suggested Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) sites at Keystone Commons, City Center of Duquesne, Industrial Center of McKeesport and rehabilitated sites in Clairton, Braddock and New Kensington.
In the letter, Brewster stated that there are multiple “clean and valuable” land resources within existing road networks that are located “along rivers, with rail access and a ready, willing and able workforce prepared to go to work.” In addition, Brewster credited local officials and their willingness to be creative in helping devise the strongest possible response to Amazon’s request.
Brewster also offered to assist the local advocacy group given his experience in attracting national development to the region. Before his election to the Senate, he was heavily involved in bringing EchoStar to the old U.S. Steel National Tube site in McKeesport.
“The Pittsburgh region is chalk full of valuable assets that can draw national and international business,” Brewster said. “We have a diverse economy, world class universities, cultural attractions, ample industrial sites and an outstanding, well-education and skilled workforce.
“The locations that I’ve mentioned have industrial parcels that have already been cleaned and prepared for development.”
-30-