Tesla Motors & Rick Perry: Texas Governor Woos Electric Car Company to Lone Star State
Last week California lawmakers along with Gov. Jerry Brown proposed legislation that would assist Telsa Motors in bypassing bureaucratic red tape if it chose to stick with the state to build its highly anticipated battery factory, which expected to bring in a considerable amount of jobs.
The race to gain the electric-car company's bid heated up Tuesday, as Texas Gov. Rick Perry drove into the state capital of California in a Tesla Model S sedan as his way of not-so-subtly getting the company's attention, The Los Angeles Times reported.
For the past few months, Tesla has been searching for the right state to set up its gigafactory and has considered Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas or, possibly, California.
The Republican governor went to the Golden State for a series of political fundraisers for Republican state and congressional candidates as well to meet with GOP lawmakers in the capital. Outside his Sacramento hotel, Perry showed off his Tesla to television crews.
Perry told reporters that he wished to bring Tesla to the Lone Star State. He touted in April that he convinced Toyota Motor Corp. to relocate its U.S. headquarters -- along with 3,000 marketing and finance employees -- from Torrance to Plano, a suburb in Texas.
Perry said he enjoyed his Tesla but it would better "if it had a made-in-Texas bumper sticker." However, he lamented accusation that he is "poaching" jobs and added that "competition between states is good for the country."
Along with the recent proposed legislation to keep Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk in California near the company's Palo Alto headquarters and Fremont manufacturing plant, California lawmakers passed a $750-million economic development incentive program, according to The Times.
Earlier this week, the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, called Go-Biz, released a list of 31 companies in the state that are likely to get the first $30 million in state income tax credits.
"The recommended companies represent a significant impact of California's economy in terms of new jobs and investments," said Go-Biz Deputy Director Will Koch.
The California Competes program list reportedly includes industries in aerospace, agriculture, biotech, food processing, high tech and manufacturing. The 31 companies are expected to add more than 6,000 jobs while investing more than $2 billion to expand their businesses, The Times reported.
Under the program, the total available incentives would increase to $150 million during the state fiscal year beginning July 1. If Tesla decided to stay in California, it would be eligible to receive a portion of those benefits.
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