500 full-time jobs coming to Mansfield

1/8/2008 1

A new call center will create at least 500 full-time jobs when Denver-based company StarTek comes to town this summer.

The employees, with an average salary of $24,000, will handle customer service for the wireless communications business. Local officials estimate the total payroll will reach $12 million.
 
Economic Development Director Tim Bowersock said he can't remember the last time an out-of-town company created that many new jobs in Mansfield all at once.

"It's been awhile," he said.
Bowersock said StarTek had outsourced some of those jobs overseas, but is bringing them back to the United States.

"This is one of three or four new centers they're establishing this year," Bowersock said.

Jobs at the call center would involve starting wages of $8.50 to $9.50, with weekly performance bonuses and full benefits, Bowersock said. Salaries could reach $12.50 an hour, he said.
A new call center will create at least 500 full-time jobs when Denver-based company StarTek comes to town this summer.

The employees, with an average salary of $24,000, will handle customer service for the wireless communications business. Local officials estimate the total payroll will reach $12 million.
 
Economic Development Director Tim Bowersock said he can't remember the last time an out-of-town company created that many new jobs in Mansfield all at once.

"It's been awhile," he said.
Bowersock said StarTek had outsourced some of those jobs overseas, but is bringing them back to the United States.

"This is one of three or four new centers they're establishing this year," Bowersock said.

Jobs at the call center would involve starting wages of $8.50 to $9.50, with weekly performance bonuses and full benefits, Bowersock said. Salaries could reach $12.50 an hour, he said.

He told council Monday that StarTek might employ more than 600 workers at the call center.

StarTek has begun taking job applications for customer service reps and other positions through its Web site, www.startek.com.

"They're already testing the waters," Bowersock said.

The company's plan hinges on the action City Council is expected to take tonight to approve a 10-year property tax abatement for CC Realty Fund II Ltd., allowing a $5 million expansion of the former Kroger grocery building on West Fourth Street. That would mean renovating its 31,000 square feet and building a 20,000-square-foot addition.

StarTek hopes to sign a lease by the end of the week. StarTek would lease at least 90 parking spaces from Mid-Ohio Conference Center, which runs programs just to the east.

The company also would temporarily lease indoor space from Mid-Ohio to train call center employees.

The tax break involves a 100 percent exemption from real property taxes throughout the next decade. However, the company would agree to compensate the city school district directly for property tax funds it would lose because of the abatement -- annually forwarding $43,529 to district coffers.

"This is a fast-track project," Bowersock told council.

StarTek initially hoped to open the call center around May 1, but the economic development director said that may be delayed, because it took longer than planned to get the project off the ground.

Local contractors will be used in the expansion, Bowersock said.

Bowersock said StarTek considered Mansfield a promising site "because of the work force." Other benefits to the north central Ohio location included local unemployment rates and a low cost of living, making the pay scale more attractive.

"It's a 24/7 operation. The heaviest shift will be the first shift," with possibly 250 to 300 employees working first shift, and third shift designed as a skeleton shift, Bowersock said.

StarTek is expected to transfer five or six managers to the new facility.

Mayor Don Culliver congratulated the economic development director for troubleshooting details that might have caused StarTek to choose another location.

"It could have fell through the cracks if he didn't stay on it," Culliver said. "It will really be great for us to start the New Year out with these new jobs."

StarTek is a 20-year-old company that provides business process outsourcing services such as customer care, sales support, order processing and accounts receivable management.

According to its Web site, Star Tek employs more than 8,000 workers in 19 operational facilities and handles 50 million calls each year.

 

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