Austin more than staying afloat

Editorial Board

Facebook announced that they are opening a unit that would add 200 jobs in Austin and announced that Yingli Green Energy Americas, Inc. is also considering locating a manufacturing plant here. This could create 300 jobs for us Texans. The fact that Austin has lost about 2,300 jobs between December 2008 and December 2009 shows there is a great need for new industries . If those companies open up here, it is estimated that 850 jobs will be created for jobless Texans. Facebook and Yingli Green Energy Americas, Inc. will get tax breaks totaling approximately $200,000 and $355,000, respectively over a ten year period from the government if they provide jobs as promised. Everything sounds great, the only thing is Austin, TX and Phoenix, AZ are in competition for the same job creations. The writer of the article noted that president Harry Truman believes that a recession means a neighbor lost his job and a depression means you lost yours. Under that definition, too many Central Texans are in a depression.” Based on everything that I have read in the article and paraphrased in my blog, I think every effort should be made by our governing authorities to assure Faacebook and Yingli chooses Austin, TX as their location for business. Central Texas needs jobs now as away to get out of our depressed economy that so many Texans are dealing with. Honestly, this will be a great opportunity to get Texans back to work.