Council approves incentive package aimed at bringing D Wave headquarters, 100 jobs and FAU partnership

The City Council approved the consent agenda Wednesday, which included an incentive agreement for D Wave Commercial to locate its corporate headquarters in Boca Raton.

City staff described the package as a performance‑based incentive rather than an up‑front cash payment: the $500,000 incentive is paid over time as the company meets milestones tied to job creation, with a 100‑job target and an average salary cited around $125,000. Staff also said D Wave will fund a $20 million commercial computing installation and partnership with Florida Atlantic University to serve students and researchers.

Deputy city staff emphasized the incentive is milestone‑driven and not a lump‑sum payment. "This is not a cash, one time cash payment," a staff member said; payments are made as the jobs are documented under the agreement.

Why it matters: The proposal is pitched as an economic‑development win that brings high‑paying jobs and a major research partner to the city. Staff said the agreement aligns with program guidelines and includes clawbacks and milestone benchmarks.

Council vote: The consent agenda, including the D Wave item, passed by voice vote recorded as 5‑0.

What happens next: The city will execute the incentive agreement and monitor milestone reporting. Staff noted additional spillover benefits such as collaboration with local biotech and tech companies and workforce development opportunities tied to FAU.