"We are moving forward with our expansion in Ft. Worth," an inside source has confirmed to GlobeSt.com. Dell, which also has inked a 75,000-sf lease at Alliance Gateway Park, has 500 acres under option for a large-scale development that has netted a 60-year tax break package from the city.

Dell hierarchy insiders have indicated that the computer giant is nearing a closing date - perhaps as early as next week - on the acreage, which is located south of Alliance at the intersection of 35W and Texas 287. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal had reported the pending layoffs in light of repeated denials from the Dell camp. "Speculation" is how Dell spokesman Michael Maher had termed the news article as he repeatedly dismissed the cutback talk. "We are not going to comment on the speculation that's in the marketplace," Maher had steadfastly emphasized to GlobeSt.com. The next day Dell came clean about the pink slips.

A Hillwood source has confirmed that Dell has not indicated any plan to back out of its Alliance pact. The Round Rock-based computer company has ticketed the site for a sales and technology support center in Alliance while eyeing a manufacturing site for the nearby 500 acres. Ironically, the marketing team is one of the areas that are being affected by the 4% workforce cutback in Round Rock's 22,000-member staff. Other areas are administrative and product-support. The company contends many of the reductions involve positions that had been made redundant by a recent reorganization of several Dell business units. As for Dell operations in Middle Tennessee and its international locations, it's "business as usual," says the company.