> $145 million for 800 employees, or $181,250 per employee

It seems like a lot, but this is the corporate HQ. The staffers will be re-located and/or hired from the surrounding area - and surely will make nice salaries.

Since these executives and other staffers will be living in the area (in large part), they'll put their salary right back into the local economy (buying groceries, cars, houses, paying bills, etc...).

Most of those employees will put far more than the $181,250 back into the local/state economy over their tenure at GE.