Austin favored for Amazon’s HQ2

Austin, Texas — the home of Whole Foods Markets — is a frontrunner to be picked as the site of Amazon’s second headquarters, according to reports.

According to research by Moody’s Analytics, Austin is favored for several reasons to land Amazon’s HQ2.

“Austin has the highest score on business environment in the top 10, thanks to fast job growth, a dynamic tech economy and the high incentives Texas offers businesses,” Moody Analytics said.

Seattle-based Amazon acquired Whole Foods in the summer and quickly became a player in the grocery industry and private brands. Amazon immediately lowered prices on Whole Foods private-branded products and began selling them online.

Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said he expects HQ to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters,” Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement last month. “Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We’re excited to find a second home."

Some U.S. cities are offering Amazon as much as $7 billion in tax breaks ahead of the Oct. 26 deadline to bid for HQ2.