New call center to create 446 jobs in Hickory

HICKORY, Jun 26, 2008 (Hickory Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- JOAN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- An Ohio-based company revealed plans Wednesday to create 446 jobs and invest about $4 million into a new call center in southeast Hickory.

Convergys Customer Management Group support center for the telecommunications industry will occupy the former Joan Fabrics headquarters at 1513 Seventh St., SE. Operations are expected to begin in October. The company picked Hickory over several potential locations, including Johnson City, Tenn.

"Our dependable and trainable work force really sold them on the area," said Kitty Barnes, chairwoman of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners. "The Convergys location provides added diversity to our current industrial base and different job opportunities for our citizens."

The Hickory location could serve multiple telecommunications clients and will be the company's fifth in North Carolina, joining Greenville, Jacksonville and two locations in Charlotte.

The center will provide technical support and customer service for Fortune 500 clients and leaders in the telecommunications industry.

An investment of $4 million in building up-fit and equipment is planned. The 446 jobs will be created by 2011. Average salaries will be $12.56 per hour.

Catawba County tax incentives for the project are based on a $4 million investment and 446 jobs, with 45 paying above the average wage required by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The grant is expected to be a maximum of $10,600 a year for three years, to be used to reimburse company expenditures.

Hickory's tax incentives also are expected to be a maximum of $30,000 and paid over a three-year period.

"Convergys is committed to providing high-quality customer service to our clients," said Christine Timmins Barry, senior vice president of operations. "We are proud to join Hickory's business community, and believe this site will help us effectively serve our clients because of the area's skilled and motivated work force and its highly developed infrastructure."

The decision shows the Hickory region's ability to attract industry other than manufacturing, said Allan Mackie, manager of the Hickory/Newton office of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.

"This shows that other employers are interested in coming here," he said. "They see the educational pieces and the support of our local government."

Convergys employs about 75,000 people in 84 customer-contact centers and other facilities throughout the world. The company's headquarters is in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To see more of the Hickory Daily Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.hickoryrecord.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Hickory Daily Record, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index