Googorola moving into River North!

by Matt Moog
July 26, 2012

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The official news announced today is a huge deal for the Chicago tech community.  We are about to have 3,000+ more engineers, designer, marketers and other professionals who wake up every day thinking about how to lead the way in the massive global shift to mobile devices.  

A 15 year lease on 600,000 square feet is a major vote of support for what is going on here in Chicago.  And they are spending $300 million on the move.  

These are my favorite quotes from the Crain's article:

"We're competing with the best of Taipei, Seoul . . . and Beijing," (the CEO of Motorola) said in an interview in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office, as the beaming mayor looked on. "In that environment, availability of the best ideas and access to your customers really matters."

"This is going to be a mecca for drawing people from the greater Midwest," Mr. Emanuel said. River North is becoming "the tech campus for the city."

 

Mark my words.  This is a very very big deal.  We should welcome Motorola/Google with open arms to our tight knit community here in River North. 

This is the largest job announcement in recent years, a huge win for Mayor Emanuel and a major validation of the momentum of the digital community here in Chicago. 

I would also just throw out there that the Merchandise Mart will now house more digital tech workers than any building in the United States.  With 3,000 from Motorola, 1,000+ with Allscripts, 500 at 1871 and 500 at Razorfish there is some serious digital mojo happening in Chicago and even more specifically River North. 

 

Chicago Sun Times

Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago Tribune

Chicago startup guides

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