SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Phoenix recruiting Seattle businesses after head tax passage
May 25, 2018, 1:53 PM | Updated: 1:53 pm
Amazon's emerging headquarters in Seattle. (AP)
(AP)
Amazon announced this week, just days after the passage of the head tax, that it is moving 130 jobs from Seattle to Phoenix, AZ.
Chris Camacho, president and CEO Greater Phoenix Economic Council, told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that Phoenix is launching an ad campaign aimed at attracting Seattle businesses to the idea of relocating to the Grand Canyon State.
“There’s such a frustration level with continued undo taxation placed upon these [Seattle] companies, and they are looking at alternative locations for investment and job creation,” Camacho said. “And I think last week’s decision is just another example of the council targeting a specific segment of the business community.”
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Camacho said that the local government in Phoenix adopts a far different attitude toward its business community than Seattle leadership does.
“Here in Phoenix, I can tell you, our practices are focused on how we support business … how we embrace the right kind of regulatory policies and tax policies that will encourage growth rather than stymie it,” he said.
Camacho pointed out that in the tech age, it is easier than ever for companies to relocate and run wherever they would like.
“You’re seeing companies really evaluate staying in their home-base markets or legacy markets, or shift to markets that have better regulatory and tax environments, but have very strong labor markets as well, and I think that’s what Phoenix affords,” he said.
Additionally, with Arizona State University having the largest engineering school in the U.S., Camacho said that the talent pool in the Phoenix area holds high appeal for tech companies.
There are already companies under non-disclosure agreements with the City of Phoenix, and Camacho expects this group to grow in the coming months. He said that companies that gross $20 to $50 million in revenue are especially ideal.
“We’re one of those kind of markets that really embraces those sizes of companies, so I anticipate us to see dozens more reach out to us over the next few months,” he said. “And we’re going to be very solid business partners as we go forward.”
