Finally some good news for the State: Google coming to Ann Arbor w/1,000 jobs

[Glenn]

This is excellent news, and a little bit of a coup for Granholm in an election year.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/15012375.htm

Google plans to open Ann Arbor-area facility, hire 1,000

DAVID N. GOODMAN
Associated Press

DETROIT - Google Inc. plans to open a new facility in the Ann Arbor area that will employ 1,000 people within five years to handle advertising that appears on the Internet giant's search engine, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and company officials said Tuesday.

The plan, which could be a significant boost to Michigan's lagging economy, was unveiled at news conference in Lansing.

"Michigan has been Googled," Granholm said. "These are jobs that will keep our young people in Michigan."

Google's project involves opening an office for its AdWords unit, which handles "pay-per-click" advertising to users of Google's Internet search engine, officials said.

The location made sense for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google because of the talent pool in the area, said David Fischer, director of online sales and operations. He defended the decision to build in the heart of the Rust Belt.

"We don't get caught up in the conventional wisdom, and try to look at things with fresh eyes," he said at the news conference.

Job opportunities with Google's Ann Arbor-area facility were expected to open quickly, officials said. They said the project is expected to generate 1,000 direct jobs within five years, as well as 1,200 indirect jobs.

The state offered Google $38 million in tax breaks over 20 years, should its employment reach 2,000. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority met Tuesday morning and approved the incentives.

Democrat Granholm is being challenged for re-election by Republican Dick DeVos. She has been criticized for not attracting high-tech jobs to the state.

Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0 percent in May, compared with a national rate of 4.6 percent that month. Economists have said they expect the state jobless rate to climb until 2008.

Ann Arbor is a city of 113,271 about 35 miles west of Detroit. It is home of the University of Michigan and of a number of high-tech businesses.

Google co-founder Larry Page is a native of East Lansing and graduated from the University of Michigan. Google already has a small sales office in Southfield.

[Anthony]

Nice. Too bad its not closer to Detroit.

[b-diddy]

its stupid that UofM has among the best schools of business, law, and medicine, and that everyone that goes to UM leaves the state. why stuff like this doesnt happen more is beyond me.

[Uncle Mxy]

http://vielmetti.typepad.com/vacuum/..._ann_arbo.html

[Taymelo]

The State of Michigan:

300,000 jobs lost.

1,000 new jobs from Google.

Let's party!!!

[Matt]

nice!

*forwards resume*