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Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.27.2008
Douglas has landed what is expected to be the border city's largest private employer, a call center that city officials say will help revitalize the former mining town.
Berwyn, Pa.-based Advanced Call Center Technologies LLC plans to hire 80 people in the next month and begin training, Victor Gonzalez, economic development director for the city of Douglas, said Thursday.
Within four years, the call center is expected to employ 692 people, city and company officials said.
Joe Lembo, president and CEO of Advanced Call Center Technologies, said the Douglas center will complement the San Luis, Ariz., call center the company opened in April 2007.
The company provides technical and customer support for banks and telecommunications companies.
"Like San Luis, Douglas has a good labor source and bilingual workers," Lembo said. "We're very excited. Douglas really needs the jobs, and we need a labor force that is willing."
The border city has no major private industry, and most jobs are in government or retail. Many residents commute to Sierra Vista or have relocated to Tucson to find work, Gonzalez said.
When Douglas officials held a job fair to gauge interest in working for the call center, Gonzalez said more than 800 people showed up. The city has an unemployment rate of 7 percent to 8 percent.
"This brings a sense of encouragement to the community," Gonzalez said.
Entry level positions will start at $8 an hour, and the salary range goes up to $22 per hour, he said.
Currently, the city's largest employer — the Arizona Department of Corrections — employs 651 people.
The largest private employer in the city of 17,837 residents is Wal-Mart, with 339 employees, Gonzalez said.
As part of its recruiting efforts, Douglas applied for and was awarded a $275,000 grant to upgrade six intersections in and around the future call center.
Gonzalez said the Economic Strength Project grant from the Arizona Department of Commerce was awarded to the city Wednesday.
Advanced Call Center Technologies will take over a 55,000-square-foot former grocery store that has sat vacant for more than 10 years in the San Antonio Commercial District, on the city's east side.
It will operate out of temporary city-owned offices until its permanent facility is ready at the end of the year, Gonzalez said.
● Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at 573-4232 or grico@azstarnet.com.
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