As part of a $13 billion nationwide expansion, Google announced new specifics Friday regarding its growing Chicago office, saying it will add hundreds of jobs at the site.
Google, which currently employs more than 1,000 people at its West Loop office, says much of the job creation will come from launching a finance team in Chicago. With the new department and the addition of new office space, Google says it has the capacity to double its Chicago workforce by the end of this year.
In addition to its current office, Google has reportedly leased about 132,000 square feet in a separate West Loop building that it plans to start moving employees into next fall, according to The Chicago Tribune.
“We looked at a lot of cities to find the right home for our new team and decided that Chicago’s culture, diversity and strong emphasis on community makes it a perfect fit for Google,” said Karen Sauder, Google’s vice president of sales and site lead for Chicago, in a statement.
Google first came to Chicago in 2000, but didn’t open its Fulton Market office until 2015. The office began as a sales outpost, but it has grown to include roles across engineering and product management, which the company says makes up nearly 25 percent of its Chicago employees now.
In Google’s most recent economic impact report, the tech company reported providing $17.7 billion worth of economic activity in Illinois, benefitting 48,000 states businesses.
Google announced the expansion plans on Friday at an event for its Google.org Illinois Impact Challenge, a program that awards $1 million to local nonprofits that have innovative ideas to drive economic growth throughout the state.
“Chicago's tech scene has grown tremendously over the past several years and Google has been an important partner in that effort," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "The company continues to add new jobs and spur economic growth all while being a strong corporate partner for our residents. I look forward to seeing the company continue to grow in Chicago for years to come.”
