Amazon’s Continued Dedication to the Seattle Tech Hub

Amazon Reinforces Commitment to Seattle After Mayoral Election

After the recent mayoral election in Seattle, Amazon’s top executive reiterates its dedication to the region, emphasizing, “We are here to stay.”

David Zapolsky, the Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer at Amazon, shared this sentiment during an Amazon Community Impact Reception held at The Spheres in Seattle. The event focused on the company’s philanthropic initiatives ranging from housing projects to food security programs.

Zapolsky remarked, “In this time of change, both locally and globally, Amazon remains steadfast in its commitment to the Puget Sound region. We are firmly rooted here and remain dedicated to enhancing our community.”

This public statement serves as a rare affirmation of Seattle’s significance as Amazon’s primary hub, particularly following years of contentious interactions with city authorities over taxes and other policies. These disputes led Amazon to shift a portion of its workforce to Bellevue, Washington, and Northern Virginia.

With the election of Mayor-elect Katie Wilson, Amazon faces the task of establishing a new working relationship with a city leader who campaigned on addressing issues like affordability, partially driven by the tech boom catalyzed by Amazon.

Wilson’s victory over incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell signals a shift from a business-friendly administration to one that seeks to collaborate with the tech sector, including Amazon, on innovative solutions for civic challenges.

During her campaign, Wilson expressed her intention to engage with big tech companies like Amazon to tackle urban issues creatively.

As a seasoned community organizer and co-founder of the Transit Riders Union, Wilson played a pivotal role in crafting and passing Seattle’s controversial JumpStart payroll expense tax in 2020, a measure that significantly impacts Amazon and other large corporations.

At the recent event in The Spheres, Amazon highlighted its philanthropic endeavors and the progress made in the region, including:

• $900 million allocated through its Housing Fund to develop or maintain over 10,000 affordable housing units.
• 4.5 million meals delivered to families in need since 2020.
• 380,000 nights of accommodation provided through Mary’s Place to homeless families.

Zapolsky mentioned that Amazon’s community engagement strategy evolved as the company expanded rapidly in Seattle. Initially, the efforts were informal and limited in scale, but by 2009-2010, Amazon recognized the necessity for a more organized approach due to its exponential growth.

He emphasized that Amazon now applies its core business principles to civic initiatives, focusing on long-term strategies, understanding community needs, and leveraging its unique capabilities in logistics, technology, and legal expertise to drive meaningful impact beyond financial contributions.

Amazon currently employs over 80,000 full- and part-time staff in the Puget Sound region, with approximately 50,000 corporate and tech professionals based in Seattle. Despite a slight decrease from 2020, the company continues to play a significant role in the local economy.

Zapolsky, reflecting on his 26-year tenure at Amazon, praised his decision to relocate from New York to Seattle, emphasizing the city’s diverse assets and ongoing infrastructure enhancements that contribute to its appeal.

He concluded by reiterating Amazon’s enduring commitment to Seattle and its determination to collaborate with community partners to enhance the region for residents and employees alike.