After a year of searching for a place to finally build its second headquarters, Amazon has reportedly now succeeded in clearing its first political hurdle in its chosen area in Northern Virginia. The company's previous plan to build its new headquarters in New York was unfortunately rejected last month, leaving it with no other option but to choose the next best offer. Amazon's plans in New York were being opposed by local leaders, who had rejected the incentives promised to the company by state politicians.

Amazon had received numerous offers from hundreds of municipalities, including offers from places such as Indianapolis, New Jersey, and Newark. These offers included enticing incentives and grants, which the municipalities openly gave in exchange for potential tax-dollars and high-wage jobs. Last November, Amazon announced that it had picked National Landing in Virginia as the site for its so-called HQ2. The decision was reportedly driven by a number of enticing financial packages from both the county and the state. National Landing is a large area in Northern Virginia that is jointly owned by Arlington County and Alexandria City.

According to reports, the company has now passed its first hurdle as local officials have voted over the weekend to give the company a financial package estimated to be worth over US$50 million. The vote has become a highly debated topic in the state, with valid concerns being voiced out by activists and the project's supporters. Activists had initially requested local leaders to delay the deal to further debate and review the county's proposal. On the other side, supporters have argued that it makes no sense to delay the project as it will actually bring a lot of progress to the county given its numerous economic benefits.

The Arlington County Broad, comprised of five local leaders, voted on the proposal to give Amazon the incentive. During the vote, over 100 members from local activist groups were in attendance. Aside from the estimated US$50 million incentive, Amazon has also reportedly been promised US$481 million by the county and over US$750 million by the state. Arlington reportedly also offered to cut over US$28 million in Amazon's property tax over a 10-year period.

Justifying the incentives, Amazon Spokeswoman Jill Kerr explained that their investment in the area will generate more than US$3.2 billion in tax revenue. Amazon is also offering more than 25,000 job openings, which will greatly help Arlington's local economy.

The activist group, For US, Not Amazon, has openly opposed the county's rash decisions to allow the company to build its headquarters. The coalition of nine labor groups and local advocacy organizations had stated that Amazon needs to address the community's concerns more. These concerns include how the company will handle the displacement of families living near the proposed site and the need for it to engage with local communities to talk about its investments and plans for the area.