Apple Building $304 Million Campus In Texas, Hiring 3,600 Employees

Apple, Inc. on Saturday announced plans to open a new $304 million campus in Texas where the company will then hire 3,600 employees over the next decade.

The plan came together after officials in the state promised the company $21 million in incentives to build the new location.

For its part Apple will hire people in various positions including customer support, sales and accounting staff among other roles.

According to Gov. Rick Perry:

“Investments like this further Texas’ potential to become the nation’s next high-tech hub.”

Over the last ten years Apple has grown from 1,000 employees in Austin, Texas to more than 3,500 today.

Texas put together its technology fund in order to entice new technology jobs in the state. According to the Governor the $21 million promised to Apple is one of the largest available in Texas while the overall fund has put more than $443.4 million into play, creating 62,000 jobs along the way with more than $15.4 billion in capital investment.

While the $21 million investment might seem small in comparison to the money Apple will bring to the state critics of the plan, specifically Tea party activists have called using state money to attract businesses yet another example of “crony capitalism.” According to critics the state has done very little to ensure that promised jobs are actually created. Company’s often pay “claw backs” which amount to miniscule penalties for failing to meet job creation promises.

Do you think state money is Texas and other states should be used to attract new businesses without definitive promises of job creation?