Major Salesforce expansion tied to RFRA fix

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Published: Tuesday, 10 May 2016 15:41

INDIANAPOLIS — Salesforce, one of the top technology employers in the state, plans to add 800 jobs in Indianapolis by 2021. The company also plans to move into Chase Tower and rename it Salesforce Tower.

“I want to say to the Salesforce of today and tomorrow across central Indiana—this is really your day,” Gov. Mike Pence said during the announcement Friday. “To the people of Indiana goes the credit for this win for Indiana, with this announcement.”

Pence celebrated the state’s recent economic successes, saying the technology sector has added more than 5,000 jobs in central Indiana alone. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the expansion shows Indianapolis is a place where young, talented individuals can work.

Indianapolis Mayor, Joe Hogsett welcomed Salesforce’s expansion in Indianapolis during his speech. Photo by Max Bomber, TheStatehouseFile.com.

“I think it solidifies Indianapolis as not only a tech incubator, but it sends a very powerful message throughout the business community,” said Hogsett. “Particularly in a time when we are all recruiting and trying to attract and retain the most talented workforce.”

Last year, Salesforce was a vocal opponent to the original version of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The company offered packages to employees who wished to relocate and stated it would not invest in the state if the law did not change.

While standing near Pence, Salesforce Marketing Cloud CEO Scott McCorkle described the company’s opposition to RFRA and said Friday’s expansion announcement was made possible by the “RFRA fix” that the state legislature passed after the uproar. He also credited the human rights ordinance in Indianapolis, which provides protections to members of the LGBT community.

Hogsett said “Indy welcomes all.”

“I think that the Indiana General Assembly sooner or later, I hope sooner, would see clear to extending protections like the human rights ordinance in Indianapolis does—throughout the state for all the citizens of our state,” said Hogsett. “I think that it would be an important step forward.”

Hogsett said the investment shows that the company is convinced Indianapolis is a community that will be a great environment for all the employees at Salesforce.

“As a company, we are committed to protecting our employees and customers from discrimination, because equality is a core value at Salesforce,” said McCorkle. “We also applaud Carmel and Zionsville for their newly passed human rights ordinances.”

Although there have been some bumps along the way, McCorkle said the business has enjoyed growing a company in the state. McCorkle said the company is committed to furthering their puah for civil rights and said the best way to do it is a statewide non-discrimination provision in our civil rights code.

“We lead at Salesforce and we intend to keep leading and making sure that all officials understand where we stand,” said McCorkle.

Meanwhile, Pence is ready to move on.

“Today is really not about the past. It is about the future,” said Pence. “The future of Indiana in technology and across the board in our economy couldn’t be more bright because of the pro-business environment we created.”

Salesforce will begin moving into the tower in early 2017 and plans to create the 800 new jobs by 2021.

Article writer Max Bomber is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.