- Google is spending $17 million for the expansion of its Michigan-based offices in Detroit and Ann Arbor
- The expansion will include new sales and technical support jobs
- Google is not seeking any development subsidies as part of the expansion.
Today Google announced that it is spending $17 million to expand its Michigan-based offices in Detroit next to Little Caesars Arena and the north side of Ann Arbor, according to Detroit Free Press. New sales and technical support jobs will be added as part of the expansion investment.
Google did not specify how many new jobs will be coming but noted that it would be a “significant” addition. In Michigan, Google currently employs 600 people. Most of these employees work in ad sales and technical support. It’s worth mentioning that Google is not seeking any development subsidies.
The search giant is planning to lease an additional floor at the Detroit location and an additional building in Ann Arbor near the Google office at 2300 Traverwood Dr. In total the expansion will increase Google’s footprint in Michigan to 260,000 square feet from 170,000 square feet. The expansion in Detroit is expected to conclude in 2020. And Google’s Ann Arbor expansion should finish in early 2021.
Earlier this year, Google’s self-driving car project known as Waymo open a Detroit facility for final assembly. This facility is expected to employ more than 100 people and could be as high as 400 people. Detroit Free Press pointed out that Waymo is leasing and repurposing an existing site at the on the American Axle and Manufacturing campus on Holbrooke where American Axle has its world headquarters.
The expansion announcement was made in conjunction with Google CFO Ruth Porat visiting Taylor Community Library in Taylor, Michigan. At the event, Porat discussed the “Grow with Google” program where free digital skill training is provided to the workforce. Porat pointed out that Google has been in the area for 13 years now.
“We’re really proud of the team, and we see this as just a great opportunity to build on what is working really well,” said Porat via Detroit Free Press. “As a company, Google is growing at a faster rate outside the San Francisco Bay Area than inside the Bay Area.”
Google/Alphabet co-founder Larry Page was born in Lansing, Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering (with honors) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While attending the University of Michigan, Page built an inkjet printer made out of Lego brick and he was a member of the 1993 “Maize & Blue” University of Michigan Solar Car team. In 2009, Page gave the commencement speech at U of M.
