Tennessee 'very interested' in Amazon HQ2 after NYC strife

If Amazon's planned expansion in New York City through as a result of mounting opposition among local politicians, some Tennessee lawmakers would be happy to work in and work with the e-commerce giant.

"We would be very interested in working with Amazon in any way possible," Bob Rolfe, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, told FOX Business on Tuesday.

Nashville was one of the 20 finalists in the year-long contest to host Amazon's second headquarters, but ultimately lost the bid to Long Island City, a neighborhood in Queens, and Arlington , Virginia.

However, the e-commerce giant is reportedly reconsidering its plan to build a second headquarters in New York City, first reported by The Washington Post. (In a statement to FOX Business, and Amazon spokesperson said the company remains "focused on engaging with our new neighbors.") "The question is whether it is if the politicians in New York don't want the project, especially with how people in Virginia and Nashville have been so welcoming, ”said one person familiar with the company's plans, according to the post.

In November, Tennessee Gov. An operation hub in the state, bringing with it an estimated 5,000 jobs. In exchange, Amazon will receive a cash incentive of approximately $ 1[ads1]5 million, Rolfe said.

19659002] Tennessee officials have refused to release information about the type of incentives they offer to Amazon in exchange for HQ2, which company officials said would create 25,000 high-paying jobs and millions of dollars in local investments.

Amaz on officials were in Tennessee last week, according to Rolfe, although he said that HQ2 "was not part of the conversation. "

" So we haven't had any conversation directly or indirectly with Amazon about a second look, if you want, for the 25,000-job project, "he said.

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Because it was the city of Nashville that entered the HQ2 competition and not the state of Tennessee, it would probably become the responsibility of Matt Wiltshire, the director of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development, Rolfe said.

Wiltshire declined to comment.