LAFAYETTE CALL CENTER WOES SIMILAR TO ALEXANDRIA'S

"A call center that received $2 million in local and state grants on a pledge to maintain a workforce of 1,000 people from 2007 to 2013 is anticipating laying off its remaining workers this month after falling far short of that employment goal." (See: "Call center at mall likely to shut down").

"The call center, which has since been acquired by Canadian-based Transcom, has announced plans to lay off its 265 remaining employees on Jan. 31 if a large enough client cannot be secured by that time." id.

Alexandria too has had a history with a closing call center.

StarTek had entered into an economic development agreement with the City of Alexandria and the State of Louisiana, whereby the City gave Startek a lease of the Power Center, put up $2.3 million and a $1.2 million state grant, in exchange for StarTek providing a certain number of jobs (about 400). StarTek had about 100 fewer jobs that it had promised, and StarTek was sought a one-year extension on their agreement and even had the audacity not to show up and beg the Council for that extension but sent the now deceased Elton Pody of the Chamber of Commerce. StarTek finally closed its operations here in 2010.

Concerning the empty call center at the old Jake's building, Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy said a resolution would give his administration the ability to go out and try to make a deal that could bring 300 to 400 jobs to Alexandria. Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy pointed out that the city does not "have a landed deal "just yet."

I think that before our local and state politicians get all giddy over call centers and promise them the moon with our tax dollars, there should be a better investigation into these call centers on whether they will actually supply us with jobs and will fulfill their ends of the bargains.

See Also:

SPECIAL CITY ALEXANDRIA COUNCIL MEETING ON NEW DISTRICTS AND THE CALL CENTER

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ALEXANDRIA FALLS PREY TO THE STARTEK SCAM