Ohio capital one of 20 possible locations

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, praised Amazon.com on Thursday for choosing Columbus as one of 20 finalist locations for the location of its second corporate headquarters.

The Ohio was chosen after the company reviewed 238 proposals across the United States for its North American operations.

“I am pleased to see that Amazon has selected Columbus as a finalist for its second headquarters,” Portman said in a news release. “Columbus is a growing, thriving city and there is no doubt in my mind that it is the best choice among the announced finalists. I was proud to lead the entire Ohio delegation in support of this project, and I will continue to work with JobsOhio, Columbus2020 and Columbus leaders moving forward to help the city in its efforts to win this important investment.”

Portman led the Ohio delegation’s letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in October, urging the company to consider Ohio as the location for Amazon’s HQ2.

Portman specifically noted Ohio’s advantageous location, high-quality higher education network, large and talented workforce, robust transportation infrastructure, and business-friendly environment.