California took more employment and innovation bruises this month with two announcements from companies producing the state’s favorite products – web technology and solar power.

Palo Alto based Facebook will build new facility in Oregon

Employing 200 people during construction and 35 full time employees upon completion

"The social media powerhouse confirmed Thursday that it has picked the economically depressed Central Oregon town for Facebook’s first company-owned data center, drawn to the region by reliable and affordable power, a favorable climate and tax breaks."

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Silicon Valley based MiaSole solar company will build manufacturing facility in Georgia
Employing potentially 1,000 workers

"A Silicon Valley-based company that makes low-cost, high-efficiency solar modules is planning a manufacturing plant in metro Atlanta that could employ up to 1,000.  While California remains a hub for solar startups, Oregon, Texas, Colorado and Arizona are becoming destinations as solar firms chase skilled labor and low operating costs, said Terry Peterson, a San Carlos, Calif.-based solar power consultant.  While Georgia’s cheap fossil-fueled electricity lowers manufacturing costs, it squelches local demand for solar power."

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These announcements bring more pain to the state’s economy and workers after California lost another 5,900 manufacturing jobs in December, bringing the total since 2001 to more than 607,000.