SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Amazon and game developer Kong Studios Inc. are adding new offices in Santa Monica, city officials announced this week.
The move marks an era of significant expansion for any of the companies, city officials said.
And it’s a smart sign for the city, as officials expect the shift to the local workforce and load even more technology, progress in the game and employment opportunities in the region.
“The Amazon and Kong Studios studio is a welcome addition to task creation and a promising sign for our city’s economic growth,” Santa Monica economic development manager Jennifer Taylor said in a statement.
The arrival of more businesses in the village is a sign for the people, who have been hit hard by the pandemic.
“As we navigate the lasting effects of the pandemic, economic recovery remains a priority for the city and we are excited to see those positive trends in new business activities that rely on our local workforce,” Taylor said.
Amazon will open a new “tech hub” in Santa Monica from the development of the company’s presence in Southern California, which also plans to lease offices in Irvine and San Diego.
The inauguration of the new one is scheduled for mid-2023. The new Santa Monica is the company’s largest lease in the region and will generate more than 1,000 new technology and business jobs in Santa Monica alone.
Amazon signed an agreement to lease 200,000 square feet of area at the Water Garden business center. The resort already houses an Amazon Studios.
This spring, American game developer Kong Studios Inc. announced plans to move its headquarters from Nevada to Santa Monica. With this move, Kong Studios aims to develop the creation of its next large-scale game and expand its intellectual assets and the role of its headquarters.
Technology and innovation remain one of Santa Monica’s most sensitive economic sectors, employing more than 29,000 people lately with an average quarterly payroll of $1. 95 billion. The city is already a hub for notable tech corporations adding Snap, Inc. , Hulu, Headspace, GoodRX and Oracle and game progression corporations like Naughty Dog.
“The increased presence of Amazon and Kong Studios is a testament to Santa Monica’s tech sector and its physically powerful and diversified local economy,” city officials said.