DALLAS — Could Lowe's build a 2,000-person technology hub in Dallas?
The home improvement retailer is considering the city for its planned tech center, said Dan Frahm, spokesperson for the company.
"Lowe’s previously shared that we will work to build a base of up to 2,000 software engineers, infrastructure engineers and data analysts, together in a technology center, to support our focus on improving technology capabilities and solutions across our business," Frahm said in an email. "Two primary locations remain under consideration at this time: Dallas, TX, and various sites in the Charlotte region."
The company is "actively evaluating" the potential sites, Frahm said.
The Dallas area has been attracting interest from companies in tech and other sectors, thanks to its growing talent pool and other factors. Uber Technologies, the ride-sharing company, said earlier this month it was considering Dallas for a potential site that could employ thousands. More than 30 companies from outside the area are currently considering a relocation or expansion in the area, the Dallas Regional Chamber said earlier this year.
Lowe's Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is led by Marvin Ellison, the former leader of the Dallas area's JC Penney Co. Inc., who left the Plano-based company last year.
In late 2018, Ellison said the company plans to hire 2,000 employees for technology roles as Lowe's works to make its IT a little more seamless. He said the North Carolina company was still evaluating locations for the hub at the time. The company expected the first 500 to be hired in 2019 at the time.
"The Dallas Regional Chamber and candidate regional cities are engaged with the Lowe's project team to support and encourage selection of DFW as a corporate center," Mike Rosa, senior vice president of economic development at the Dallas Regional Chamber, said in a statement. "We hope Lowe's chooses to grow, prosper and partner with us in DFW."
Lowe's Chief Information Officer Seemantini Godble said the company narrowed down its list of locations to the two cities because of the availability of tech talent in both, and because they are growing rapidly, according to an earlier story in The Charlotte Observer, which first reported the news. Both also have a relatively business-friendly climate.
Godbole said both cities offer competitive advantages to attract young workers.
"The bulk of our hiring for these roles will begin once the location for our tech center has been determined,” Godbole said in the report.
A decision about the location of the tech hub is expected to be made by the end of summer, Godbole said.
The company has said it will cut some jobs as it eliminates services such as project specialists for interior home jobs.
