Gov. Abbott, Uber CEO Break Ground On New Hub In Deep Ellum
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Gov. Greg Abbott and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi were in Dallas Friday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the company's new major hub in Deep Ellum.
The ride-sharing and food delivery company is expected to move into their new home in 2022.
The new hub is expected bring about 3,000 jobs to North Texas as the company will look to hire for new positions and relocate current employees.
By the end of this year, Uber is expected to either hire or relocate 400 employees in Dallas. Temporary offices are expected to open by July 2020.
The company is set to receive $36 million in incentives from the state and local governments.
The Dallas City Council approved the incentives in August, which is the same month the new hub was announced.
"The competitive economic package that helped attract Uber to this site is tied to job creation and it will create tens of millions of dollars of investment in our city," said Mayor Johnson.
According to Uber, Dallas was the first city in Texas to offer the ride-sharing service in 2012.
They've got about 400 employees in this building now, and their new hub will be built right next door.
Uber's new CEO, Governor Greg Abbott, and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and others are celebrating the new offices that will become their second largest hub.
The high tech ride sharing firm says it needs the talent of the 244,000 tech workers here in the Dallas area.
"We're looking for people who are here, who want to work hard, who want to innovate, who want to compete, and who want to build. And that spirit of building and innovating is a spirit we felt in Texas is strong and certainly strong in Dallas," said Khosrowshahi.
You may soon see Uber's self-driving vehicles around the city, mapping out the streets.
Governor Abbott credited the state legislature for helping to lure Uber.
Two years ago, lawmakers created a single set of rules statewide for the ride-sharing industry, instead of allowing a patchwork of rules in different cities.
"You won the hearts and you open the eyes of Uber liters to the possibility that Texas may be a pretty good place to do business," said Gov. Abbott.
The man who helped find Uber its new home says the company wanted a new building in an urban setting.
Joe Beard, President & CEO, Westdale Real Estate Investment, said, "Really fell in love with the Deep Ellum area the unique area that it is it's historical significance it's diversity it's entertainment options."