Local & State Headlines

EDC announces N.E.W. business

• A business that handles 15 million customer service calls annually will initially bring 120 new jobs to Albany.

Barbara Rivera Holmes

PLANNED N.E.W. HIRING EVENTS Wednesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Georgia Department of LAbor Albany Career Center, 1608 S. Slappey Blvd. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Albany Herald Career Fair, Hilton Garden Inn, 101 Front St. Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Albany Technical College Manufacturing Technology Center, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Building E Online at www.newhomebasedccr.com

ALBANY — After surveying more than 200 locations for a potential expansion site, officials with a customer care center Thursday announced Albany as its pick.

The city's demographics are right, said Rebecca Alston of N.E.W. Custom Service Companies, Inc. but it is the city's Southern hospitality that ultimately won over officials.

"We have been so impressed with our initial experience in the Albany community that it made it a simple decision to launch here," said Karen Rish, work-at-home director for N.E.W. an independent third-party administrator of extended service plans, buyer protection services and product support programs.

"N.E.W. choosing Albany further emphasizes all of the positive qualities that make us attractive for future economic growth," said Bobby McKinney, chair and interim president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. "We are doing something right."

Other deciding factors, officials said, were the welcoming attitude of the EDC and the community's educated work force.

"We talked to the Economic Development Commission about jobs ... then we toured the city to see if we were a good fit for the community," said Alston, who works from her Raleigh, N.C., home. "If there's not a partnership, there's not going to be success for us.

"We interviewed local retailers," she said. " 'Is there an applicant pool here?' ... 'Is this a good place to live? Are you happy?' "

The initial 120 jobs that the firm will bring to Albany and Dougherty county are work-at-home jobs. About 650 of the company's 2,700 customer care representatives work from their homes.

That 120 figure could expand by as much annually for four years, officials said, depending on need.

"This is another day when we can talk about good stuff," said Dougherty County Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard, who added that "the EDC has worked hard on this project."

Albany employees will handle calls for the program and information technology customer support that N.E.W. maintains for one of its biggest customers, DirecTV, officials said.

Alston said potential employees should have a computer, phone line and high-speed Internet.

Positions start at $9.50 per hour, she said, and include paid vacation days and an employee-referral program. There also are yearly bonuses based on work, she said.

The job starts with a paid six-week training course that will be taught at Albany Technical College, from where Thursday's announcement was delivered. The college, said ATC Vice President of Economic Development Programs Matt Trice, also will provide ancillary support.

"Part of our role is developing the work force to companies like N.E.W. and existing employers as well," he said.

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