The bids are in for Amazon's second headquarters - the numbers are well known by now. $5 billion in investment. 50,000 jobs. Six figure salaries. And of course, the bragging rights. The heavy hitters lined up - Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago. Some smaller markets tossed their hats in the ring - Birmingham, Alabama. Gary, Indiana. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Amazon has some pretty stringent requirements; obviously, transportation is key. HQ2, as it is being called, needs to be within close proximity to a population center of 1 million or more people. Access to overland shipping, rail and airports are primary requirements. Amazon is also looking for a market to support its corporate culture.

A concentration of universities, a well-developed tech corridor, mass transit and living standards are also considerations. Amazon's request for proposal emphasized a commitment to sustainability and demands the "presence and support of a diverse population, excellent institutions of higher education, local government structure and elected officials eager and willing to work with the company, among other attributes."

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce feels the state's capital is a prime location for this venture. Dave Black, president of the chamber told PennLive in September "We're doing some outreach to colleges and universities to see what the numbers look like for filling jobs . . . we want it [the bid] to be competitive." Harrisburg will also be competing with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the bid.

Some markets are promising colossal tax abatements - others are relying on gimmicks to attract the attention of the online retail giant. Tuscon sent a 21 foot cactus; Stonecrest, Georgia offered to change the name of their city. Charlotte, North Carolina declared October 18th an unofficial Amazon holiday. Harrisburg is leaning on its assets: low unemployment, quality secondary educational institutions, existing infrastructure and a low cost of living were the primary selling points.

On Tuesday, Smart Talk discusses the Amazon bid and the realities of competing with the rest of the nation for the tech industry's brass ring with Dave Black and Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.