NEW ORLEANS – Touted as the largest economic development announcement in state history, tech giant DXC Technology announced it will open a “Digital Transformation Center” in the New Orleans Central Business District in January 2018 creating 2,000 local jobs by 2025 with an average annual salary of $63,000.
An estimated 2,257 additional jobs will be created to support DXC Technology's operations, said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards at a press conference at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Monday, Nov. 13.
“It’s one of the greatest projects in our state history,” said Edwards.
Monday’s press conference included remarks by Edwards, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson, President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. Michael Hecht and Executive Vice President of Global Delivery Organization at DXC Technology Stephen Hilton.
Landrieu called the announcement a “game changer.”
“It’s one of the biggest economic development announcements that the city of New Orleans has ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” Landrieu said.
Virginia-based DXC Technology, a $25 billion Fortune 250 firm, was created in April 2017 from a merger of CSC and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. DXC has 6,000 customers in over 70 countries and 155,000 employees worldwide.
The deal to land DXC's Digital Transformation Center in New Orleans was 18 months in the making, leaders said. More than 30 other U.S. states were considered.
Edwards said it took a cooperative effort among multiple groups, including higher education universities and community colleges committed to training DXC's future workforce.
Edwards announced the state of Louisiana is going to invest $25 million in higher education grants through the Louisiana State University System, University of Louisiana System and Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
“These campuses will provide greater faculty, staff, equipment and other instructional resources aligned with DXC Technology careers,” Edwards said.
To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered DXC a competitive incentive package with $18.7 million in performance-based grants payable over five years, including a flexible $15 million performance-based grant, a $2.2 million performance-based parking assistance grant and a $1.5 million performance-based demolition grant.
“This will be a victory we will celebrate for a long time to come,” Edwards said. “We’re going to look back at New Orleans’ tricentennial year as a true turning point for the city and an era of new greatness for the state of Louisiana.”
For updates on DXC jobs, visit www.Louisianajobconnection.com/DXCNola
– By Jenny Peterson, Associate News Editor, Biz New Orleans
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landreu at the Nov. 13 press conference. Photo by Jenny Peterson/staff