Verizon project promises 1,300 jobs

Friday, September 22, 2006

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

Hiring for the $44 million call center could begin next spring

Verizon Wireless plans to build a $44 million, 152,000-square-foot Alabama headquarters and customer service center in Thornton Research Park in Huntsville.

The center is scheduled to be completed late next year and is expected to have about 1,300 employees by the end of 2008. The starting salary at the call center will be $26,000 a year.

"This is a huge investment that's going to make a difference," said Gov. Bob Riley, who made the announcement Thursday at the Von Braun Center, standing in front of a blue and white sign with "1,300 New Jobs" stamped across it. "It's going to improve on (the community's) quality of life."

The company already has about 24 call centers nationwide, said Jim McGean, president of Verizon Wireless' Georgia/Alabama region. "We've looked for communities to partner with because we're here to stay, we're here to grow," he said. "Every time we build them, we expand them even within the first year."

Verizon Wireless has about 55 million customers.

The company was attracted to Huntsville, McGean said, because of its strong quality of life and proximity to a number of other states. Another plus for Huntsville was that it wasn't already saturated with other call centers, McGean said, which should help the company find workers.

"I'm very excited to be here," McGean said. "Our team is very excited to be here."

Serving Northeast

The bulk of the Huntsville's center support will be for customers in the Northeast, he said. Calls will be handled concerning service and billing questions, products and services.

The company plans to break ground by the end of the year, and hiring is expected to begin next summer. Blake Messinger, director of corporate real estate/facilities operations for Verizon Wireless, said he wouldn't be surprised if the company starts interviewing, hiring and training in early to mid-spring.

"My goal is to get those seats full," he said.

Messinger said the company's $44 million investment includes the purchase of about 25 acres from the UAH Foundation - the nonprofit organization that administers land sales in Cummings Research Park East and Thornton Research Park - the building, furniture, fixtures and equipment and the information technology infrastructure.

The company paid about $1.25 million for the site, Messinger said.

Verizon Wireless said it will provide more details in the near future about how to apply for a Huntsville center job.

The company's benefits include health care coverage, participation in a 401(k) program with a dollar-for-dollar company match up to 6 percent of the employee's contribution, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, annual bonuses and short- and long-term incentive plans.

"When Verizon Wireless ramps up (to 1,300 employees), it will be one of the community's top 10 private-sector employers," said Evans Quinlivan, vice chairman of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

Incentives package

The City of Huntsville, Madison County, the State of Alabama and the Tennessee Valley Authority pitched in $1.25 million in cash, said Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office. Of that amount, $850,000 is coming from the state, he said.

An estimated $1 million in training through the Alabama Industrial Development Training is also part of the incentives package.

Also, the company could receive up to $15 million in tax breaks over 20 years. State law provides for a capital credit to be applied to the income-tax liability generated by income from an approved project, and the capital credit is available each year, for 20 years. It is calculated at 5 percent of the total capital costs of the project.

Verizon Wireless looked at "a lot of different communities" for the center, Riley said, but what sold the company on Huntsville was "your quality of life. ... It's not incentives."



Verizon project promises 1,300 jobs Friday, September 22, 2006 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com Hiring for the $44 million call center could begin next spring Verizon Wireless plans to build a $44 million, 152,000-square-foot Alabama headquarters and customer service center in Thornton Research Park in Huntsville. The center is scheduled to be completed late next year and is expected to have about 1,300 employees by the end of 2008. The starting salary at the call center will be $26,000 a year. "This is a huge investment that's going to make a difference," said Gov. Bob Riley, who made the announcement Thursday at the Von Braun Center, standing in front of a blue and white sign with "1,300 New Jobs" stamped across it. "It's going to improve on (the community's) quality of life." The company already has about 24 call centers nationwide, said Jim McGean, president of Verizon Wireless' Georgia/Alabama region. "We've looked for communities to partner with because we're here to stay, we're here to grow," he said. "Every time we build them, we expand them even within the first year." Verizon Wireless has about 55 million customers. The company was attracted to Huntsville, McGean said, because of its strong quality of life and proximity to a number of other states. Another plus for Huntsville was that it wasn't already saturated with other call centers, McGean said, which should help the company find workers. "I'm very excited to be here," McGean said. "Our team is very excited to be here." Serving Northeast The bulk of the Huntsville's center support will be for customers in the Northeast, he said. Calls will be handled concerning service and billing questions, products and services. The company plans to break ground by the end of the year, and hiring is expected to begin next summer. Blake Messinger, director of corporate real estate/facilities operations for Verizon Wireless, said he wouldn't be surprised if the company starts interviewing, hiring and training in early to mid-spring. "My goal is to get those seats full," he said. Messinger said the company's $44 million investment includes the purchase of about 25 acres from the UAH Foundation - the nonprofit organization that administers land sales in Cummings Research Park East and Thornton Research Park - the building, furniture, fixtures and equipment and the information technology infrastructure. The company paid about $1.25 million for the site, Messinger said. Verizon Wireless said it will provide more details in the near future about how to apply for a Huntsville center job. The company's benefits include health care coverage, participation in a 401(k) program with a dollar-for-dollar company match up to 6 percent of the employee's contribution, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, annual bonuses and short- and long-term incentive plans. "When Verizon Wireless ramps up (to 1,300 employees), it will be one of the community's top 10 private-sector employers," said Evans Quinlivan, vice chairman of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Incentives package The City of Huntsville, Madison County, the State of Alabama and the Tennessee Valley Authority pitched in $1.25 million in cash, said Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office. Of that amount, $850,000 is coming from the state, he said. An estimated $1 million in training through the Alabama Industrial Development Training is also part of the incentives package. Also, the company could receive up to $15 million in tax breaks over 20 years. State law provides for a capital credit to be applied to the income-tax liability generated by income from an approved project, and the capital credit is available each year, for 20 years. It is calculated at 5 percent of the total capital costs of the project. Verizon Wireless looked at "a lot of different communities" for the center, Riley said, but what sold the company on Huntsville was "your quality of life. ... It's not incentives." © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.