Dallas (1080 KRLD) - Uber Technologies, Inc. says it will not be able to live up to the terms of an economic development deal it reached with the City of Dallas.
The company had promised to create 2,500 new jobs at its offices in a high-rise on the edge of Deep Ellum. The company says that because of the economic impacts of COVID-19, it will only have about 500 employees at that location. It's asking the City of Dallas to terminate the economic development agreement.
In 2019, the Dallas City Council approved a deal worth $9.3 million dollars to lure the company to Dallas. The incentive package included fee waivers, tax breaks and economic development grants. Those incentives depended on the company meeting certain performance goals. So far, Uber has received about $25,000 worth of benefits in the form of fee waivers.
City officials believe the company will be required to re-pay that amount to the city under the terms of the agreement.
Uber currently has about 200 employees at its offices in the Epic office tower on Pacific Avenue.
"I am disappointed but not surprised by Uber's decision, considering the significant economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dallas Mayor Johnson said. "We are heartened that Uber remains committed to Dallas and to employing hundreds of people in our city center."
Uber also had economic development agreements with the State of Texas and Dallas County for its Dallas offices.
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