Google picks Durham for engineering hub, aims to create 1,000 jobs
Date Published:by Rick Smith, WRAL TechWire
Internet giant Google will create an engineering hub focused on cloud computing and over time will create 1,000 jobs, the company announced early Thursday.
“Today is an exciting day for Google Cloud in North Carolina. We help businesses and organizations digitally transform, and to meet this challenge, we need the most talented team possible and the Triangle region has some of the best and brightest engineers in the world,” said Marian Croak, vice president of engineering for Google, in the announcement. “We look forward to partnering closely with the local community as we expand our presence in this new engineering site.”
The center will be built in Downtown Durham through a sublease of space from Duke University at 200 W. Morris Street in the Durham Innovation District, according to a spokesperson for the company. It is evaluating “several locations for its eventual permanent home,” the company added.
The North Carolina news is part of a $7 billion plan to invest in growing its US operations.
“I believe a lasting economic recovery will come from local communities, and the people and small businesses that give them life. Google wants to be a part of that recovery,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its corporate parent Alphabet. “That’s why we plan to invest over $7 billion in offices and data centers across the U.S. and create at least 10,000 new full-time Google jobs in the U.S. this year.”
Google has a long-standing investment in North Carolina dating back 16 years with one of its data centers located in western N.C. The new operation will be nearly double the company’s current number of employees in the state.
For years it also has maintained a software development office in Chapel Hill.
And its Google Fiber high-speed internet network has significant operations as well as offices in the Triangle as well as Charlotte.
Already in Durham, Google works with the American Underground (owned by WRAL News and WRAL TechWire corporate parent Capitol Broadcasting) as one of its startup focused hubs.
WHY DURHAM?
Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the internet economy with Google among the most significant players. Competitors include IBM and Raleigh-based Red Hat as well as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
Google said it selected Durham for the new center, which will join four others in the U.S., in part due to “the region’s diverse, world-class talent to support growing customer demand for its enterprise products and solutions.”
In the announcement, Gov. Roy Cooper said:
“It’s good to welcome Google Cloud to North Carolina where I know they will find a talented workforce and a great quality of life. When I visited Google leadership in their Silicon Valley office in 2018, it was clear to me that our state was perfect for their expansions and we look forward to this hub helping to define the future of Cloud Computing.”
Lilyn Hester, Head of External Affairs, Public Policy and Government Relations – Southeast, Google
“I’ve called Durham home for decades and have long shared with my colleagues that there is something very special about this corner of the world that requires a closer look. Google’s growth in the Triangle is a true expression of a shared commitment to innovation and community.”
Original Article Source: WRAL TechWire