Google Goes Back to School
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Written By Reprise Media | July 11, 2006 | Share This
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Google co-founder Larry Page is returning to his undergraduate alma mater in a big way, and he’s bringing a thousand Google jobs with him. According to Reuters, Big G will open an office and research center - occupying 240,000 square feet of downtown office space - in Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan.
Although Governor Jennifer Granholm said the state used tax breaks, in part, to intice Google to build in Michigan, the move doesn’t come completely out of left field. After all, Google is in the midst of digitizing all seven million books in the school’s libraries as part of its Book Search project. In fact, the first hires Google makes will probably be for positions related to book digitization.
Of course, it’s an election year and politics is also playing a role. Granholm’s been under fire for job loss in the state, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands in the last six years. Google’s 1,000, which will be spread over the next five years, isn’t exactly going to plug the dike, but it could encourage other high tech firms to take an interest in the state, which has lost jobs mainly in the manufacturing sector.
Topics: Google |
This is a great step. Honestly, with a name like Google, the number isn’t even terribly important, it sets a precedent like you say, and puts Michigan on the map for other high-tech firms, not to mention planting the seeds for further future investments from Google in Michigan. Good for Governor Granholm and good for Michigan!
I think this is great news for Michigan and Granholm. She has a job plan that she has laid out for the next 4 years if she is re-elected and frankly i think Granholm is great for the state. It has been a tough road for Michigan but oppotunities like this will hopefully get the state back on track.