Dallas among the finalists for Amazon's HQ2

Amazon announced Dallas is a finalist for its second headquarters dubbed the ‘HQ2.’ But local business and city leaders say there’s still a lot of work ahead if it happens.

Twenty cities are still in the running for Amazon’s $5 billion investment, including Dallas, Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Dallas bid is regional, with possible sites in Fort Worth and other North Texas cities, kicking off the bidding process to phase two.

North Texas already boasts half a dozen Amazon distribution centers and brings jobs and expansion to cities like Coppell and Haslet. Now, it’s in the running for HQ2.

“Round two of any corporate relocation assessment usually involves a deeper dive into all the factors that were considered early on,” explained Mike Rosa with the Dallas Regional Chamber.

The internet giant is considering the expansion of its already sizeable footprint in the DFW region. The $5 billion second headquarters would bring 50,000 jobs over a decade.

The announcement came just in time for the Dallas Regional Chamber's annual meeting.

“I think to win this bid is a testament to what has been built over the years,” Rosa said.

Leaders remain tight-lipped for now about who's offering what but do say Dallas and Fort Worth worked hand in hand to present the overall regional story. They’re pushing major selling points like the area's track record of growth, workforce, infrastructure and business climate.

“We are able better than most to accommodate those long-term growth plans at the scale they're looking at,” Rosa said. “We've got them when it comes to workforce and talent over the years.”

Since 2010, 75 companies have moved their corporate headquarters to the DFW region.

North Texas leaders say when it's come to luring businesses, they usually end up competing with cities that have airport hubs. They say they’re working on scheduling a call with Amazon to further the selection process.

A decision is expected to come sometime this year.