BlackRock plans 1,000-job innovation center in Atlanta

The sun sets along the downtown Atlanta skyline seen from the Jackson Street bridge, Monday, May 14, 2018. ALYSSA POINTER/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The sun sets along the downtown Atlanta skyline seen from the Jackson Street bridge, Monday, May 14, 2018. ALYSSA POINTER/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Investment giant BlackRock announced plans Thursday to open a new innovation center in Atlanta, where it expects to locate about 1,000 jobs.

In a press release from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office offered few details about the complex and did not say where in the city it will be located. But it touted the center’s expected connectivity to metro Atlanta universities, including Georgia Tech, and the business community.

“The Atlanta innovation hub is an example of BlackRock’s strategy to serve clients globally and locally and we are excited to build our presence in the area over the next several years,” BlackRock Chief Operating Officer Rob Goldstein said in the release. “Atlanta was chosen for its skilled and diverse talent pool, thriving business community and high quality of life as we look to attract top talent and constantly innovate how we operate.”

Atlanta has seen many new innovation labs and research and development centers open since the Great Recession, with many centered in Midtown. These include Georgia Power, NCR and Honeywell.

BlackRock bills itself as the world’s biggest asset management company.

“When firms like BlackRock choose to expand here in the No. 1 state for business, it’s a powerful statement of what Georgia has to offer to industry leaders,” Deal said in the release. “Georgia provides a workforce that is among the nation’s best and brightest, and their talents and skills, paired with our willingness to embrace cutting-edge innovation, will provide BlackRock with valuable resources as the company continues to grow across our nation.”

More on this story as it develops…