Google is positioning itself to take advantage of the local talent residing in and around Austin.

Shonda Novak reports that Google has signed two major leases that signify an effort to establish a larger footprint in the city of Austin, Texas, where the company already employs 1,100 workers.
"One of the Austin leases is for a 35-story building that Google will occupy in its entirety downtown at West Cesar Chavez and Nueces streets, on what is known as Block 185. The other lease is for all seven stories in a building at the Saltillo mixed-use project that Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group is developing in East Austin," according to Novak.
Andrew Silvestri , head of public policy and external affairs for Google in the Central U.S., is quoted in the article discussing Austin's attraction to the company as a hub of local tech talent.
So far, Google's plans to hire the workers to fill those office spaces aren't clear.
FULL STORY: Google says it plans ‘significant’ expansion in Austin

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
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