Finally! Both money and endorsement
The clock 16:03 Friday, October 7, 2011 plingade it in my computer. Yet an email I thought at first, and in the subject line by Anders Dalstål of City Planning said “Aurorum”, which was the former name of Lulea Science Park. The cryptic message read: “Hello. Now it is clear, both money and endorsement has come. “It really was not any e-mails anytime!
That message went out to those interested in the municipality and to Matz Engman on Lnab. Everyone knew immediately what it meant: at the City of Lulea low that the signed purchase agreement for the land in Porsön and a bank statement showing that the money for this was the municipality’s account. Facebook had paid 6.6 million for 34 acres at Lulea Science Park.
Self, I wrote that, I certainly would squeeze a ginger ale in the evening and I thanked everyone for the incredible work they had put in.
Now it was really in port. Server rooms would be built and thus stood Lulea facing the biggest investment in a very, very long time. Only at that moment I could be absolutely secure. They will. Facebook comes to Luleå! Roller coaster was over and we had managed to secure this deal.
I was indescribably happy, and it was also the others that were on mejlets mailing list. The responses were pouring in: “Now I will fetch my children and celebrate!” Self, I wrote that, I certainly would squeeze a ginger ale in the evening and I thanked everyone for the incredible work they had put down. It was truly a victory for the entire organization. Without cooperation, good will and pragmatic solutions had never been possible.
The whole world eyes directed at Lulea
press conference on the morning of 27 October 2011 in Culture house was large and well attended. First there and in the following press releases, we announced that the large US company really was Facebook. The whole world’s attention was directed towards Luleå. In the press release from Invest Sweden said Tom Furlong, global manager of Facebook’s data center investments, that they had investigated options throughout Europe and in an extensive process concluded that Dubai was the best solution. “Dubai Municipality, the Ministry of Industry and Invest Sweden has been convincing throughout the process and helped us to make this decision. We look forward to becoming part of the local community and work together with Luleå to provide faster, more reliable and robust service to people around the world who rely on Facebook to stay connected with friends and share information. “
The day after the press conference we went to Stockholm and he ld a press conference there as well. There were reporters from major international media as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Internet World, and others. There was enormous pressure and a lot of interest. It was really fun to be a part of it.
Media from around the world reported, it all really gave a great impact. Something like I have never experienced, and hardly anyone else in Sweden either. US, UK, China, France, New Zealand, all wrote about Lulea. It was fantastic.
Locally, it was then a part of media criticism of establishment support for Facebook because it is an international company that makes big profits, but those are the rules.
Economic Development and Regional Affairs Annie Loof was at the press conference in Luleå and presented the State of establishment support for the initiative. That Facebook would get establishment support seemed to come as a total surprise to the media, that we understood the questions from journalists both in Luleå and Stockholm. I and the others in the group that worked with the establishment of several years was naturally delighted that they had begun to write about and question the earlier in the process. It might have been Facebook to pull in their horns, what do I know? But the fact is that although there really was not any secret, it had gone letter from me on the municipality is the Growth Board and the Ministry of Industry where we wanted to get more information about how they handle the setting-up in this big business, so it was no journalist who asked that question all the time. If they had asked, I would have obviously not lied, but I w as happy to avoid talking about the establishment support because I knew that there would be voices against such support to such a large, international company. We did not want the debate while negotiations were ongoing. Locally, it was then a part of media criticism of establishment support for Facebook because it is an international company that makes big profits, but those are the rules. Facebook received no support that other companies would have also been given. Criticism clouded, however, not ours and Luleå residents’ pride and joy and we greeted jointly Facebook warm welcome to our city.
The first excerpt of four out of the book Hallo Mr. Mayor, this is a Facebook-calling, written by Gunnel E Vidén, published on 29 December. The book is available to order from info@ordfirman.se or Adlibris.
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