PRYOR, OK. - Google is building a $600 million data center in the MidAmerica Industrial Park and with it comes 200 jobs.
“This announcement marks a real milestone for Oklahoma, so it’s only fitting that it arrives in the year of our state’s centennial,” said Gov. Brad Henry. “Google is one of the most innovative and exciting companies in the world today, and this data center means the creation of good-paying, high tech jobs.”
Once fully operational, Google expects the data center complex to be staffed by up to 200 workers. Full-time Google employees will earn an average salary of $48,000 per year.
The positions will include facilities support - HVAC, maintenance, systems administration - software technicians, and data center technicians. Additional support services such as security, catering and grounds keeping will be retained via contract.
The first employees to be hired will be local managers for the facility and on-site technical operations. Job descriptions for the positions and instructions for submitting resumes will be posted on the Web site soon, at www.google.com/jobs.
Local managers will staff the jobs in maintenance, facilities, hardware and software technicians will make up the bulk of the positions. Other interested applicants and vendors can send information to oklahomaproject@google.com.
The construction of the Google facility will also add construction jobs. There will be as many as 500 workers on the site at any one time.
Google expects during the initial phase of construction that the contractors will most likely staff from the local subcontractors and will utilize local businesses.
Google looked at states from the Appalachian Mountains to the Rockies as possible locations.
When traveling to multiple states, Google representatives looked at a state’s taxes, regulatory and operating environment, states and infrastructure. Last fall Google representatives began discussing project possibilities with officials at MAIP and began finalizing contracts by the end of the year.
Economic development incentives offered to Google were state statutory sales tax and ad valorem property tax exemptions. Google may also pursue the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program. The real and personal property tax exemptions expire after five years.
In the first two years, Google estimates producing $6 million in sales tax from the purchase of building materials. Also, the company will pay payroll taxes, sales tax from non-exempt purchases and corporate income taxes.
“The establishment of this facility will have a continued and positive impact on Pryor and other communities across northeastern Oklahoma,” said Henry.
Google is recognized as the world’s largest search engine.
Google was founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin in a garage in Menlo Park, Calif.
Their idea was to find a way to search what is important on the Internet and make that available to the public.
Lloyd Taylor, Director of Global Operations, Google, Inc., said the company doesn’t sell its services.
“We try to make them so good that they will want to use them,” said Taylor.
Google makes money through targeted advertisements, AdWords. When an Internet user clicks on the ad, Google makes from 5 cents to $1.
Google is now a top Web property in all major global markets. The company is 8 years old and employs around 12,000 people worldwide.
It earned the title of Fortune Magazine’s number one place to work in December 2006.
“Google’s decision to locate in Oklahoma demonstrates our ability to compete for high-tech jobs in today’s global economy,” said Amy Polonchek, executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “Our pro-business climate, highly skilled workforce and outstanding incentives attracted Google to Oklahoma.
“Our new project in Oklahoma will help us continue to provide fast, reliable and innovative online services to our users and customers,” said Taylor. “The assets that we found here at MidAmerica Industrial Park are an outstanding fit for our needs.”
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