HID Global to build new Austin distribution center, create 276 jobs

The company identified 19 acres of land at 601 Center Ridge Drive behind the Shops at Tech Ridge development as the ideal location for its manufacturing and distribution center. The company's Business Information Form, submitted to the City of Austin, indicates HID Global would like to begin construction on the $30 million, 200,000-square-foot center by the end of 2012 and finish by the end of 2013.

“Texas is an ideal location for investing in the construction of our new state-of-the-art facility, thanks to its business-friendly climate and state and local incentives,” said Rodney Glass, HID senior vice president of global quality and operations, in a Sept. 5 news release from the governor's office.

The City of Austin has proposed its own performance-based grant for $920,576 over a 10-year period in exchange for HID Global's creation of 276 jobs with an average salary of $51,398. Austin City Council will hear a presentation Sept. 12 and vote on the grant at its regular Sept. 27 meeting.

HID Global, based in Irvine, Calif., is a secure identities solutions company with offices located throughout the world.

According to a news release from the governor's office, the new facility “will be the company's future operations center for North America that will produce and distribute a variety of identity and access management products.”

HID Global reported it would begin hiring for positions in 2014, with all positions filled in 2015. The company plans to hire almost all staff and entry-level positions locally, according to the Business Information Form.

The Texas Enterprise Fund was created in 2003 to attract businesses to the state. Criteria to be eligible for the fund include offering high-paying jobs above the average wage of the county where the project will be located. About 239 of the total 276 jobs HID Global plans to create meet that criteria for Travis County.