Amazon Could Bring 50,000 Jobs to Central New York?

It's a possibility. The online retail mega-business is seeking a partner for a second headquarters that would be "a full equal" to its main campus in Seattle.

Rather than using a team of consultants to do a lot of research initially and pick a location, Amazon has turned this into a contest. The company has published a challenge on its website and is asking interested regions to submit pitches.

The RFP, or request for proposal, is open to any area.  Amazon's website claims it is seeking "a city that is excited to work with us and where our customers, employees, and the community can all benefit."

Whoever wins the bidding process could get as many as 50,000 additional jobs for its region and almost immeasurable economic benefits. So, leaders in Syracuse and Onondaga County may take a shot, according to a Syracuse.com article.

Amazon says it may prefer metro areas with populations of at least one million. They also would like an airport with direct flights to Seattle, Washington, DC, New York, and San Francisco. These are criteria Syracuse could not fully meet, at least immediately.

But, maybe Central New York could band together and wow Amazon with other details in its official submission. Hey, it's not like other major companies aren't located in smaller places.

Walmart is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, with a population of under 50,000.

The message board attached to the piece in Syracuse.com is filled with comments from doubters, but also tinted with the optimism of dreamers. And Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, launched his giant business out of his own garage. So, who knows?