Amazon releases short list for HQ2, Minnesota eliminated

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 16: An Amazon logo is seen inside the Amazon corporate headquarters on June 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. Amazon announced that it will buy Whole Foods Market, Inc. for over $13 billion. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

Amazon released the short list for the site of its second headquarters in North America, and Minnesota isn't on it. 

Minnesota was one of 238 locations to submit a bid last fall for the online retail giant's second headquarters. On Thursday, the list was narrowed to 20 finalists. 

Amazon says it expects to spend $5 billion on the new headquarters and hire 50,000 employees. 

The company plans to make a final decision on the location of HQ 2 by the end of 2018. 

FINALISTS

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Austin, TX
  • Boston, MA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Columbus, OH 
  • Dallas, TX
  • Denver, CO
  • Indianapolis, IN 
  • Miami, FL
  • Montgomery County, MD
  • Nashville, TN
  • Newark, NJ
  • New York City, NY
  • Northern Virginia, VA
  • Los Angeles, LA 
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Toronto, Canada