TSU leader, expert say university can play major role to land Amazon in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) - Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover says the institution can play a major role in luring retail giant Amazon, which is looking to open a second headquarters — possibly in Nashville.

Tennessee's capital city was recently named one of the remaining 20 locations vying for the economic jackpot.

President Glenda Glover

"TSU is Nashville's only public university with outstanding technology and business and commerce degree programs," says Glover.

"We produce a diverse group of very talented and workforce-ready students. In addition to TSU establishing a student employment pipeline of business and tech-savvy employees for Amazon, we have an array of accredited and professional development programs to help their current workers enhance their skills and career path within the company.”

Glover adds that TSU’s executive MBA and continuing education offerings are just a few of the tools the university can readily offer Amazon through the corporate employee education program.

Called HQ2, the new facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct and operate, and will create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. According to USA Today, the facility will also add $38 billion to the local economy, create 53,000 non-Amazon jobs and boost the personal income of non-Amazon employees by $17 billion.

TSU expert Dr. Achintya Ray agrees that a potential relationship between the university and Amazon would offer a unique opportunity.

“Rarely does history present such an outstanding opportunity to bring together a fast-growing city, a corporate giant, and a strong public university in a close partnership with each other,” says Dr. Achintya Ray, professor of economics.

“In many ways, a partnership between Nashville, Amazon, and Tennessee State University can help define the ushering of a transformative century of economic development while further cementing America’s leadership role in the global economy."

Last year, Amazon, based in Seattle, Washington, received bids from 238 cities and regions from across 54 states, provinces, districts and territories across North America. The company said it would make a decision in 2018.

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