http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2178044
DETROIT Jul 11, 2006 (AP)- Google Inc. plans to open a new facility in the Ann Arbor, Mich., area that will employ 1,000 people within five years to handle advertising generated by the Internet search engine, people familiar with the deal said Tuesday. The plan, which could be a significant boost to Michigan's lagging economy, was scheduled to be unveiled at a news conference in Lansing, Mich., on Tuesday morning, said two people who had seen the announcement and who were familiar with its details. They requested anonymity because of Google's wish for confidentiality ahead of the announcement. 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, the people said. Gov. Jennifer Granholm scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning to "make a jobs announcement," her office said in a news release. "This is a huge, huge, huge, huge thing," Granholm told Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh for a story in the newspaper's Tuesday editions. "It's a tremendous statement about Michigan having a cutting-edge work force." Job opportunities with Google's Ann Arbor-area facility were expected to open quickly, the people who had seen the announcement said. The project is expected to generate 1,000 direct jobs within five years, as well as 1,200 indirect jobs, they said. Phone and e-mail messages seeking comment were left for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google before business hours Tuesday. The state offered Google $38 million in tax breaks over 20 years, should its employment reach 2,000, the people said. They said the Michigan Economic Growth Authority was to meet Tuesday morning to vote on 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 people 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. Shares of Google fell $2.85 to $415.35 in morning trading on the Nasdaq. On the Net: Google Inc.: http://www.google.com Gregory S. Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
