Rep. Burns urges Amazon to open Pennsylvania headquarters

State Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) sent a letter Thursday to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos urging the company to consider Cambria County as its new headquarters.

The letter was a follow-up to correspondence Burns sent Bezos in February after New York City opposed Amazon’s relocation, objecting to 25,000 positions that would have an average annual salary of $150,000.

Burns told Bezos that Pennsylvania designated up to 375 acres in Cambria County as a Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ).

The KOZ allows for parcels smaller than 10 acres and is a way for the local government to
offer substantial state and local tax incentives for companies.

“Keystone Opportunity Zones are a breakthrough idea that Business Facilities magazine calls the number one economic development strategy in the nation, and we are pleased to offer one to you and any other interested investors,” the letter said. “KOZs reflect a true sense of partnership between state and local taxing bodies, school districts, economic development agencies, and community-based organizations.”

Cambria County desperately needs good-paying jobs, Burns said.

In his February letter, Burns told Bezos Amazon has the opportunity to rebuild America by investing in revitalizing the towns and vowed to work with Amazon and elected officials to work out a deal.