The power systems arm of Germany-based Siemens AG will decide by Nov. 1 on a site in either Orlando, Pittsburgh or Ft. Worth, TX, according to engineering consultants intimate with Siemens' plans.
The venture will require the hiring of 500 engineers, analysts and support staff. The winning city will also gain numerous subcontractors, vendors and suppliers who normally set up leased or build-to-suit offices near a main client's factory.
Each of the three cities is pledging at least $50 million in economic incentives to Siemens, corporate planners familiar with the project tell GlobeSt.com. In 1995, Orlando and Orange County combined committed $100 million in incentives value to lure microchip maker Cirent Semiconductor here.
"The total incentives package this area is now talking about to induce Siemens to build the plant here is over $100 million on a 10-year basis," an engineering industry consultant tells GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity.
Officials at Siemens, the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Forida Inc. and the Governor's Office on Trade and Economic Development couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline.
The plant will produce fuel cells for electricity. Pittsburgh is considered to be the lead site because that is where Siemens' existing fuel-cell research division is based.
Siemens has a large equipment-repair center in Houston while northeast Ft. Worth's growing technology center in suburban AllianceTexas, Tarrant County, is attracting global corporate tenants. Dallas was was eliminated as an early site choice. Florida's big carrot is having no income taxes for individuals or corporations.
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