AUSTIN | Economic Development

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by BG918

Have you been to Tulsa? It is very similar to Austin. Tulsa has a better workforce for manufacturing than Austin and is more centrally located with access to a river port.

I have been to Tulsa many times. I don't find it to be anything like Austin.

Also, Tesla employs a lot of tech workers and would likely find benefit in leveraging Austin's tech scene. Tulsa has no tech scene to speak of.

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by freerover

What solar project?

I swear I read a few years ago that Austin power was going to have a huge solar farm for power and financial savings. Maybe I misunderstood.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

I swear I read a few years ago that Austin power was going to have a huge solar farm for power and financial savings. Maybe I misunderstood.

Sounds like you don't know what you are talking about.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

That and you can play 2-3 cities off of one another to get a better deal. If a deal isn't already inked I would assume you would see some moves from Hays county cities as well. Lots of cheap land near the dump but not sure about rail connections.

Hutto is pretty obviously going to be the destination.

You won't typically see different cities within the Austin metro competing with one another (at least publicly). The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce coordinates economic development deals for the entire metro. Site selection is early in the process. Once a deal is ready to be announced, locations and any potential local incentives are pretty firm. My guess is that if Tesla is already talking finalists, the outline of the potential deal is already set, including the location in the Austin metro.

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by freerover

Sounds like you don't know what you are talking about.

Yikes. Don’t be rude. I think it was related to this:
https://austinenergy.com/ae/green-po...oject-benefits

[BG918]

Originally Posted by paul78701

I have been to Tulsa many times. I don't find it to be anything like Austin.

Also, Tesla employs a lot of tech workers and would likely find benefit in leveraging Austin's tech scene. Tulsa has no tech scene to speak of.

It’s an auto manufacturing plant. Tesla has plants in both Reno and Buffalo, not exactly tech hubs either. It would make sense to have the R&D in Austin for that reason but the actual manufacturing is better suited for Tulsa where there is well trained workforce due to the large cluster of aerospace and O&G manufacturing companies located there, along with better access to the rest of the country via highways, rail and river transport.

[We vs us]

On the Tulsa tip (belatedly): I lived there from 2008-2012 and have to say it's definitely NOT on any Austin timeline. It has never been and never will be anything like this city. If you're Tesla and you want access to a large blue collar workforce; if you want cheap land and a state gov willing to literally dismember itself and gift its limbs to you in exchange for your business; if you value dirt cheap cost of living and think that the most you should provide your workers is a low tax rate; then Tulsa's the place for you. T-Town has made great strides since I've left, but it's still going to forever be the place that has to bribe you to relocate and replace its aging workforce.

If Tesla values cultural cache at all (and if you look at Elon's Twitter feed, it's clear that he does); Austin's the clear winner hands down.

[sammyk]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Yikes. Don’t be rude. I think it was related to this:
https://austinenergy.com/ae/green-po...oject-benefits

Yah, it's been there for a while, you can even see it on google maps.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by We vs us

On the Tulsa tip (belatedly): I lived there from 2008-2012 and have to say it's definitely NOT on any Austin timeline. It has never been and never will be anything like this city. If you're Tesla and you want access to a large blue collar workforce; if you want cheap land and a state gov willing to literally dismember itself and gift its limbs to you in exchange for your business; if you value dirt cheap cost of living and think that the most you should provide your workers is a low tax rate; then Tulsa's the place for you. T-Town has made great strides since I've left, but it's still going to forever be the place that has to bribe you to relocate and replace its aging workforce.

If Tesla values cultural cache at all (and if you look at Elon's Twitter feed, it's clear that he does); Austin's the clear winner hands down.

Honest question, why does Austin need this plant then if there are already so many good paying jobs? Shouldn’t a place like Tulsa where this would go a lot further in improving the local economy and particularly diversifying the economy away from energy and aerospace? Never have understood why some people are so greedy but I guess it is Texas where arrogance is rampant and anything not-Texas is never good enough.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by BG918

Honest question, why does Austin need this plant then if there are already so many good paying jobs? Shouldn’t a place like Tulsa where this would go a lot further in improving the local economy and particularly diversifying the economy away from energy and aerospace? Never have understood why some people are so greedy but I guess it is Texas where arrogance is rampant and anything not-Texas is never good enough.

1. Hutto isn’t Austin. It’s 30 miles away. I doubt people from Okmulgee, think they live in Tulsa.
2. Hutto is as rural (thus, just as worthy for development....by your standards) as any other rural area of the country. I imagine they will welcome the jobs/investments.
3. Tesla (EM) reserves the right to place their businesses/jobs wherever they please. Who would you propose decide where businesses are allowed to locate?
4. No need for cheap shots at Texas’ expense. I’ve not read any untoward statements regarding Tulsa or Oklahoma in this thread. IMO, Texas gets exactly what it deserves. As we say down here....”that’s right, you’re not from Texas.....Texas wants you anyway!”

Cheers and Hook ‘em!

FYI
“untoward”
adjective
unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.

[ATXboom]

Very on the level UrbanCore.

I’m happy to be more frank though. This isn’t a charity decision. A for profit business will locate where it best suits them. Best to view the decision through the eyes of Tesla. Not through any of ours. What are you hoping to hear or achieve coming to the Austin sub-forum to advocate Tulsa for Tesla?

[BG918]

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Very on the level UrbanCore.

I’m happy to be more frank though. This isn’t a charity decision. A for profit business will locate where it best suits them. Best to view the decision through the eyes of Tesla. Not through any of ours. What are you hoping to hear or achieve coming to the Austin sub-forum to advocate Tulsa for Tesla?

I understand that and think it will in all likelihood end up in Texas. But I wouldn’t completely discount Tulsa either, as some in this thread were doing, as there are a lot of advantages for this type of facility there. I know Colorado (and several other states) wanted this plant so congrats to TX and OK for being finalists. Sorry for straying off-topic, back to the Mountain West sub-forum I’ll go...

[DavidVistaChino]

Originally Posted by urbancore

1. Hutto isn’t Austin. It’s 30 miles away. I doubt people from Okmulgee, think they live in Tulsa.
2. Hutto is as rural (thus, just as worthy for development....by your standards) as any other rural area of the country. I imagine they will welcome the jobs/investments.
3. Tesla (EM) reserves the right to place their businesses/jobs wherever they please. Who would you propose decide where businesses are allowed to locate?
4. No need for cheap shots at Texas’ expense. I’ve not read any untoward statements regarding Tulsa or Oklahoma in this thread. IMO, Texas gets exactly what it deserves. As we say down here....”that’s right, you’re not from Texas.....Texas wants you anyway!”

Cheers and Hook ‘em!

FYI
“untoward”
adjective
unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.

I just talked to a friend in Fremont, where the Tesla assembly plant is. This is apparently what's going on, according to him. It IS the Austin Area, AND we will know no longer than a week or so from now, for sure. After the announcement, the construction of the Cybertruck Gigafactory will commence IMMEDIATELY, and Elon "Tusk" expects the first trucks to come off the assembly line BEFORE the end of the year. If that happens, it would certainly be amazing, to say the least!

[deerhoof]

Originally Posted by DavidVistaChino

I just talked to a friend in Fremont, where the Tesla assembly plant is. This is apparently what's going on, according to him. It IS the Austin Area, AND we will know no longer than a week or so from now, for sure. After the announcement, the construction of the Cybertruck Gigafactory will commence IMMEDIATELY, and Elon "Tusk" expects the first trucks to come off the assembly line BEFORE the end of the year. If that happens, it would certainly be amazing, to say the least!

What’s his association other than being from Fremont? Wouldn’t be surprised about Tesla moving very quickly on cybertruck. That’s a huge market they can’t deliver to yet. Have read reservations of cybertrucks is at 500K as of earlier this year. I believe the electric truck market could be enormous.

[JoninATX]

I believe I found the future site of Tesla. It's in Williamson County. The site is U/C with several Tesla cars parked in front.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I believe I found the future site of Tesla. It's in Williamson County. The site is U/C with several Tesla cars parked in front.

spill it. donde?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I believe I found the future site of Tesla. It's in Williamson County. The site is U/C with several Tesla cars parked in front.

Are you back from Vegas and just driving around Wilco?

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by urbancore

spill it. donde?

Off Hwy 79 between Hutto & Taylor.

Originally Posted by The ATX

Are you back from Vegas and just driving around Wilco?

Yes. I'm in the process of moving back to Austin. Aka home.

[The ATX]

Check this story out. It confirms JoninATX's post about it (or something else that is very big) already being U/C between Hutto and Taylor.

https://www.torquenews.com/1/rare-pi...-possible-site

[urbancore]

Wait, is this saying they just bought a spot in Jarell and are already under construction in Hutto? So they plan 2 spots?

I need things spelled out for me....i'm dum.