# Small town economics clash with Big Tech agendas

An episode of [Marketplace](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/201853034), 21 Oct 2026, 25 min.

Audio: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/5/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/VnCzW2iO9G8z4eDWfXCd/play.publicradio.org/podcast/o/marketplace/pm/2026/10/21/pm_20261021_PM_Podcast_64.mp3?awCollectionId=mkp-MKP-PM&awEpisodeId=01M5FMXHM1P4TBX2DPKG70WX04

In Crook County, Oregon, just east of the Cascade mountains, data centers sprawl across the high desert landscape. The area fell into economic decline during the Great Recession and some residents welcomed investment by Meta and Apple in the form of massive data center complexes. But 15 years on, was it worth it? In this episode, what happens when data centers come to town. Plus, mergers and spinoffs: Abbott plans to turn its baby formula operation into a standalone company, and Elon Musk explores a plan to combine Tesla and SpaceX. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. Read the stories in today’s episode: • Data centers boosted one Oregon town's economy, but some residents have had enough • Abbott Laboratories announces a baby formula spinoff company • Elon Musk wants to merge SpaceX and Tesla • If “demographics are destiny,” what’s in store for the U.S. economy?

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