Tech giant CenturyLink, which has acquired Colorado-based Level 3 Communications, will keep its headquarters in Monroe, Louisiana, despite a concerted effort by Colorado to recruit the Fortune 200 company.
“To put what happened in context, metro Denver has 2.9 million residents and is considered a hot spot nationally for attracting both millennials and tech workers. Monroe is a city of 48,000 people that is smaller than it was in the early 1990s. Commerce City and Parker each have more residents than Monroe,” according to an article in the Denver Post.
“Denver International Airport is the nation’s fifth busiest with the fourth largest domestic flight network. Monroe residents have to drive 300 miles to reach a comparable transportation hub in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or 250 miles to get to New Orleans.”
According to the article, Colorado offered $27.8 million in tax incentives, compared to $17.5 million offered by Louisiana.
Interestingly, according to the article, Louisiana will grant up to $2 million to Louisiana Tech University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Grambling State University to boost their ability to provide graduates with the skills CenturyLink is looking for.