Editorial

More benefits from state's location

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Our state's central location is paying off again with a high-tech investment, Google's announcement that it would spend $300 million on another data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, bringing another 50 high-tech jobs to the Omaha metro area.

The jobs will include computer repair, heating and cooling and logistics.

The company that is also a verb -- "Google that for me, will you?" -- already has a $600 million data center opened in 2009, employing about 200. That facility houses computers that perform things like Google Search, Gmail and Google Maps.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority offered more than $9 million in tax credits to help persuade the Mountain View, California, company to make the commitment.

We haven't found any official connection, but Gov. Dave Heineman recently signed LB1080 that provides exemptions from property taxes, sales and use taxes related to data centers, a bill the sponsor said would help attract 20 high-tech, well-paying jobs.

As it is, Nebraska should still benefit from the jobs.

Whether or not it was specifically aimed at Google, it should have the desired effect of making Nebraska more attractive to Google, Paypal and the like.

From the days of the fur traders, to the gold rush of 1849, wagon trains and railroad, until today's Interstate 80 travel, Nebraska has always left its mark on those just "passing through." It's good to see more and more benefit from business associated with the electronic highway.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: