Gov. Rick Perry announced investments in Websense Inc. and Dropbox Inc. through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) that will create a total of 615 new jobs in Austin. Execution of the state's agreements with each company is contingent upon finalization of local incentive offers as required by program criteria.
"Texas is the nation’s leading example of creating an environment that allows job growth to flourish, innovations to thrive and families and employers to succeed," Gov. Perry said. "Paired with our low taxes, smart regulations and fair courts, these TEF investments will help bring hundreds of jobs to Austin, and thanks to our world-class workforce, these employers know Texans are prepared to take on the diverse needs any company may have."
Websense is relocating its corporate headquarters from San Diego to Austin, creating 445 new jobs and a projected capital investment of more than $9.9 million. The state is providing $4.5 million through the TEF to close the deal on this relocation and job creation. Websense is a leading global cybersecurity company that protects organizations from the latest cyberattacks and data theft.
"We are expanding our presence into Austin because it represents an energetic, high-technology hub that will further enable us to meet growing demand for our technology and better serve our global customer base," Websense CEO John McCormack said. "Our top priority continues to be exceeding customer expectations and protecting organizations from data theft and advanced cyberattacks."
Dropbox is expanding its Austin operations with additional sales and operations positions, creating 170 new jobs and a projected capital investment of $5.5 million. The state is providing $1.5 million through the TEF to close the deal on this expansion and job creation. The company simplifies the work and personal lives of millions of people by letting them easily access and share their documents, photos and videos from anywhere in the world.
"We were drawn to Austin because of the talented people and vibrant tech culture, and we're thankful to the Governor’s Office for their support as we grow our presence in the area," Dropbox vice president of business Sujay Jaswa said. "Our Austin team is excited to build deep Dropbox roots here as we focus upon supporting our business customers and our 200 million users."
The Legislature created the TEF in 2003 and re-appropriated funding in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 to help ensure the growth of Texas businesses and create more jobs throughout the state. TEF projects must be approved by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The fund has since become one of the state's most competitive tools to recruit and bolster business. To date, the TEF has invested over $519 million and closed the deal on projects generating 71,075 new jobs and more than $23.6 billion in capital investment in the state.