Pittsburgh makes every effort count ahead of Thursday's Amazon deadline

PITTSBURGH — The proposal deadline for Amazon's new headquarters is on Thursday.

The state Office of Community and Economic Development told Channel 11 News that Pittsburgh’s bid is likely already on its way to Amazon.

The city and Allegheny County are pitching Amazon hard on Western Pennsylvania.

It could mean up to 50,000 jobs and $5 billion in investments in the region.

It seems like every big announcement recently-- from the renovation of Pittsburgh International Airport, to Wednesday's announcement by Highmark and Allegheny Health Network-- is playing a role in Pittsburgh’s Amazon bid.

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Highmark and Allegheny Health Network on Wednesday announced they would spend more than a billion dollars to improve local health care.

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But when Allegheny County Executive rich Fitzgerald spoke, the first thing he said was related to Amazon.

“From Amazon, and any company that's thinking about locating or expanding here, they need know that those employees that they bring here, are going to have the best quality of life and the best health care,” Fitzgerald, said.

He said local companies that are stepping up and are helping the region's bid to land Amazon's new headquarters.

State leaders are also supporting Pittsburgh.

Dennis Davin, the head of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, is optimistic Pittsburgh has the resources and the people from schools like the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University to land this project.

And Pennsylvania Gov.Tom Wolf echoed that Wednesday when he talked about the state's position, saying:

"We believe we have the strongest proposal and are extremely well-positioned to win this project,” Wolf said.

Cox Media Group