SEATTLE–Amazon has revealed the 20 cities or areas that have made its first cut in its site selection process for a second headquarters. The cities, which were culled from a list of 238 proposals, range all over the US but are focused mainly in the eastern and southern US states. The choices include some expected locales — Atlanta for example — and some that were not on many people's short lists, such as Pittsburgh. Canada, too, is in the running with Toronto among the 20 finalists.

The list also includes large cities (not surprisingly given the population requirements Amazon set forth) such as Washington DC and New York City. Not only is the nation's Capital under consideration but so are its suburbs of Montgomery County and Northern Virginia. Perhaps most notable is that Amazon does not appear set on having its second headquarters close to its stronghold of Seattle. About the only western city on the list is Los Angeles.

The race to compete was intense given the economic stakes. Amazon plans to invest over $5 billion in its new headquarters, which is expected to accommodate as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. Construction and the ongoing operation of the headquarters is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community.