Small towns hungry for economic stimulus have found a willing suitor in the Internet giant, though some accuse Google of using the promise of jobs to win unfair concessions.
"At first glance, The Dalles, Oregon, and Lenoir, North Carolina, don't seem to have much in common.
Separated by a continent, Lenoir's economic roots are in the furniture manufacturing industry, while The Dalles grew up around agriculture and aluminum. Lenoir nestles in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, while The Dalles sits at the mouth of the scenic Columbia River Gorge.
But in other respects, the two cities are soul sisters.
Both are small and relatively rural. Lenoir has about 17,000 people, The Dalles about 15,000. Both have recently undergone manufacturing slowdowns that left large numbers of workers unemployed. Both have taken initiatives designed to make their towns more attractive to new industry. And both have succeeded in drawing one notably high-profile resident.
Google.
It's a growing sisterhood."
"Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the "Internet mainstay is spreading out across America's heartland with data centers not only in The Dalles and Lenoir, but also soon to be in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Pryor, Oklahoma; and Goose Creek, South Carolina.
As it pursues the goal of ever-improving connectivity in communities with the resources it needs to reach that objective, Google is changing the community dynamic in these small towns."
FULL STORY: Google-ing small towns
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie