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CTX county submits proposal for new Amazon headquarters location

Posted at 1:18 PM, Oct 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-17 23:49:36-04

Leaders within Milam County have submitted a proposal to Amazon for the second corporate headquarters location to be in Rockdale. This opportunity could bring 50,000 new jobs to Central Texas. 

“Our proposal requests Amazon to consider the boundless opportunities of a 33,000+ acre site, within 60 miles of 2.5 million people, two-tier one research universities, and just two and a half hours from the three major populations centers in the state," said County Judge Dave Barkemeyer.

Barkemeyer said Milam County could offer Amazon low land costs, lower cost of living for employees, utility availability, less urban congestion, room to expand, workforce availability, a business-friendly environment and favorable weather conditions. 

"This is the beginning of a bright future for Milam County," Barkemeyer said.

The project, called "Blue Sky" is a partnership of Milam County, Milam County Industrial Development Corporation, Rockdale MDD, City of Rockdale, Cameron Industrial Foundation, Cameron Economic Development Corporation and private institutions and individuals.

Cameron Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ginger Watkins admits actually landing the headquarters is a long shot, but she's happy the county is giving it a try.

"It's transformational," she said. "It would just be a complete transformation for the county to have all of those good jobs come."

Asked about whether she's concerned such a large influx of people possibly changing Cameron and Milam County, Watkins said she didn't think it would.

"I think that the character that we have here, the history that we have here, and the way that we can live, work and raise our family in a very safe area, that's not going to change."

Jamie Larson, who works at Old Town Cameron downtown, agrees with Watkins. He's excited about the possibility of so many new people in his community.

"We've got railroads, we've got roads, we've got good people," Larson says. "I think Milam County is the place to put it."

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