Apple to invest a billion dollars in new base in Austin, Texas

BBC:
Apple has announced plans to build a new campus in Austin, Texas, saying the project will involve a $1bn (£790m) investment.

The company already has an existing base in the city.

The iPhone-maker said it expected the latest move would eventually make it the state capital's biggest private employer.

One expert said the area had a big pool of talent to draw on but was no longer cheaper to hire in than Silicon Valley.

Intel's Atom computer processors were developed at its facility in the city. Dell, Amazon, Samsung, Facebook, Google and IBM are among other large local employers.

"There's a lot of computer chip expertise but Texas is also a massive hotbed for the data-centre industry," said independent technology analyst Chris Green.

"It also has a reputation for its traditional entertainment media scene as well as social-media development, with lots spurred on by the South by Southwest festival and other technology gatherings that have made Austin their home."

Apple already employs 6,200 staff at its current facilities in Austin, making it the company's biggest base outside of its home at Cupertino in California's Silicon Valley.

It said the new 133-acre (0.54 sq km) campus would initially be home to 5,000 new workers but had the capacity to accommodate 15,000.

The new posts, it said, would include roles in its engineering, research and development, and sales divisions.
...
Hopefully, this will not lead to the Californication of Texas.  While Austin has become an attractive site for tech companies the city has suffered under liberal local politicians and has not invested well in transportation infrastructure.  Apple does need to look at adding manufacturing facilities in this country and Texas would be an ideal site.

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