This presentation will provide an overview of Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service and the critical role economic developers play in bringing this innovative technology to communities across the United States. Attendees will learn how Prime Air operates, the infrastructure and regulatory landscape involved, and the economic benefits drone delivery brings to local communities — including job creation, innovation, and positioning jurisdictions at the forefront of advanced air mobility. 

The session will also walk through how Amazon's economic development policy team partners directly with local, county, and state economic developers to navigate the approvals process, from initial site selection and community engagement through zoning, permitting, and multijurisdictional coordination. Drawing on real-world examples from Prime Air's 2026 expansion, attendees will gain practical insight into how to evaluate and facilitate emerging technology projects in their own communities, and how proactive collaboration between the private sector and economic development professionals accelerates outcomes for all stakeholders. 

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Speakers

Sam Bailey
Senior Manager, Economic Development Policy
Americas Public Policy
Amazon

Sam Bailey serves as Senior Manager of Economic Development Policy at Amazon supporting the company’s national expansion of Prime Air. Prime Air offers drone delivery of customer orders in 60 minutes or less using a fleet of battery-powered drones designed, built, and operated by Amazon. In addition, Sam directs Amazon’s economic development policy efforts across the state of Colorado, where he is based, supporting new and existing investments. 

Prior to 2024, Sam managed Amazon's economic development policy efforts for the Mountain West region of the United States, which included Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. In this role, Sam guided Amazon's various lines of business through entry-to-market strategies, site selection, zoning and land use, economic development programs and incentives, and policymaker engagement. 

Prior to joining Amazon, Sam served as: 

• Vice President of Economic Development at the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation 

• President & CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation 

• and, Senior Manager of Global Business Development at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade for the State of Colorado.  

Will Cowsert
Senior Manager, Economic Development Policy
Amazon

Will Cowsert leads Amazon’s Economic Development Policy team for the Southeast and Mountain West US regions, Mexico, Latin America, and Europe where he supports the company with site selection, real estate due diligence, site approvals, policymaker relations, and community engagement. In his role Will also leads economic development efforts for Amazon Air and Prime Air, the company’s air cargo and drone delivery businesses, where he works with economic development organizations, airports, and government officials to support the company’s global expansion efforts. Prior to joining Amazon in 2018, Will held economic development and site selection roles at Ernst & Young (EY), Cushman & Wakefield, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Will is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned his B.B.A. in Economics from the Terry College of Business.