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Infosys breaks ground on $245m Education Center at old Indianapolis airport

Indian tech giant Infosys broke ground Friday, 16 November on its planned $245m US Education Center, intended to train thousands of US workers, at the site of Indianapolis’ old international airport in the state of Indiana.

The center is part of the Bengalaru-based firm’s plan to hire 10,000 American workers over the next two years, and set up four new Technology and Innovation Hubs across the US to develop artificial intelligence, machine learning and other emerging technologies.

Infosys is investing $35m to create the first, 125,000-sq-ft part of the campus on the 70.5-acre site. It hopes to finish construction by the end of of 2020, it said on Friday.

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett were among the dignitaries to hoist ceremonial shovels for the event.

Politicians are eager for Infosys’s investment. In March Infosys opened its first Technology and Innovation Hub in Indianapolis, promising to create 3,000 jobs in the state by the end of 2023.

That eagerness extended to paying for the Education Center’s land. The city of Indianapolis has agreed to buy the first, 58-acre parcel from the airport for $4.4m, and will sell it on to Infosys for just $1, reports The Indianapolis Business Journal, which also cited the scheme’s overall $245m cost.

"As a state, we are thrilled to be home to Infosys’ US Education Center and to be the hub for technology skills training for workers across the country," said Governor Holcomb.

"Since establishing operations in Indiana last year, Infosys has already made significant contributions to central Indiana’s tech community and to workforce development efforts happening across the state in partnership with our renowned universities."

Infosys president Ravi Kumar said the center would help make "a more vibrant community for all Hoosiers".

"We are excited to strengthen our partnership with the State of Indiana as we build a cutting-edge training facility to prepare our American employees, and our clients’ employees, to master the advanced skills that are required to succeed in our shared digital future," Kumar said.

The first phase sees a training center and a 250-person residential facility built, with walkways, green spaces and recreational facilities, said Infosys.

The company has retained Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf and Browning Investments to build the center.

Image: Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett were among the dignitaries to hoist ceremonial shovels for the event (Image from Indiana Governor Holcomb’s Twitter feed)

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