STUART: TESLA WILL INDEED BUILD
STUART: TESLA WILL INDEED BUILD
THE NEXT GIGAFACTORY IN AUSTIN,
TEXAS.
LOOK WHO IS HERE, THE MAYOR OF
AUSTIN, TEXAS, STEPHEN ADLER.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
STUART: CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.
WHEN AMAZON TRIED TO MOVE INTO
NEW YORK CITY THE LEFT DIDN’T
LIKE IT, NEW YORK CITY GIVE THEM
A LOT OF TAX BREAKS.
I KNOW THAT TRAVIS COUNTY HAS
GIVEN TAX BREAKS TO TESLA TO
MOVE TO YOUR AREA.
WHAT DO THE LOCAL PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT TAX BREAKS FOR A HUGE
COMPANY, A VERY RICH GUY LIKE
ELON MUSK?
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF
RESERVATIONS WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF
INCENTIVES.
WE WEIGH THAT AGAINST THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF
OUR CITY IN AUSTIN, IN
PARTICULAR, WHERE WE’RE POLICED
AND LUCKY TO HAVE A LOT OF HIGH
PAYING JOBS.
WE’RE DEFICIENT IN THIS
COMMUNITY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
JOBS.
WE’RE LOOKING TO INVEST OUR
MONEY IN AS MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
WE CAN TO TRY TO GET OUR LOCAL
MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE MIDDLE
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AND THIS
FITS WITH THAT PROGRAM.
IT IS THE JOBS THAT WE NEED IN
THIS CITY RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE IN A PART OF OUR TOWN
THAT NEEDS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.
AND FRANKLY HAVING A TECH
MANUFACTURING LINK IN A CITY
LIKE AUSTIN, TEXAS, IS A
PARTICULARLY GOOD FIT.
STUART: I TAKE IT THE LOW LEVEL
OF TAXES GENERALLY IN THE GREAT
STATE OF TEXAS, THAT WAS ALSO A
MAJOR ATTRACTION TOO?
>> I’M SURE THAT IT IS.
IT IS FOR BUSINESSES THAT COME
HERE.
MY SENSE IS THAT THE ULTIMATELY,
THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE BASED
ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ON
THE WORKFORCE THAT EXISTS.
AND RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN WE THINK
WE’RE PRETTY STRONG IN BOTH
THOSE CATEGORIES.
STUART: WHEN DO YOU BREAK
GROUND?
>> YOU KNOW I THINK THAT THEY’RE
OUT THERE RECLAIMING THIS LAND
AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW.
IT IS AN OLD MINING SITE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE SURFACE OF
THE MOON.
SO IT IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL
PROJECT FOR THE CITY IN THAT
REGARD AS WELL.
IT IS ON A RIVER.
IT WILL HAVE PARKS.
IT WILL OPEN UP ACCESS TO THE
COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT DIDN’T
EXIST.
STUART: WELL, LIKE TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS, STEVE ADLER,
