RSS
Home › Business › Local Business
National call center to bring 350 jobs to Anderson
Employees take calls Tuesday at Cross Country's customer care center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The company is opening a second call center in Anderson this summer.
STORY TOOLS
Share and Enjoy
RELATED STORIES
Related Links
More Local Business
- Jax New Orleans Bistro in Anderson honored for outstanding wine list
- GrandSouth Bancorporation announces second quarter earnings
- Fatz Cafe recognized as leading restaurant
Rate this Article
Photo by Nathan Gray
A new call center will be placed in the Windsor Shopping Center on Greenville Street where the Winn-Dixie used to be.
Photo by Nathan Gray
Future employees of Cross Country Home Service sit in a training session in a classroom at the Tri-County Tech College Anderson campus. All call center is being built in the Windsor Shopping Center on Greenville Street.
Location of new Cross Country Home Services in Anderson
Looking for a job?
Cross Country Home Services expects to hire 100 workers by the end of the year and will eventually employ 350 people. Anyone interested in working for a job with Cross Country Home Services should apply online at www.cchs.com/about_careers.html
ANDERSON — Florida-based Cross Country Home Services is bringing new life to a vacant grocery store in what Anderson officials hope will become a growing trend.
Cross Country officials said Tuesday that the company will locate a 36,000-square-foot call center in the former Winn-Dixie store at Windsor Place shopping center on East Greenville Street in Anderson. The center eventually will create roughly 350 jobs and $3 million worth of new investment, Anderson County officials said.
Cross Country provides home warranties, home service plans and homeowner emergency assistance programs. Chief Executive Officer Joseph Incandela said the company’s double-digit growth led to the decision to open a second call center in addition to its Fort Lauderdale, Fla., headquarters.
Call centers are the company’s core, Incandela said. Customer care representatives take calls at the centers from homeowners who have the company’s warranties or service plans and refer customers to a prescreened vendor who can fix their problem, whether it’s a broken air conditioner or major mechanical failure.
The quality of Anderson’s work force was a major reason the area landed the call center, Incandela said. Cross Country conducted a two-year site search with Dallas-based Site Selection Group before making its decision.
Key factors in the company’s decision also included the availability of an existing facility and strong community support for training and employment services, officials said.
During the site selection process, Cross Country conducted open houses for prospective employees. The response to blind ads in Anderson County was overwhelming, drawing 24 applicants for every job, said Heather Jones, the county’s economic development director.
“When our teams come back from Anderson, they rave about the city and county,” Incandela said.
Cross Country already has 29 workers training at Tri-County Technical College’s Anderson campus. The call center should employ roughly 100 people by the end of the year and reach its full capacity within the next two years, Incandela said.
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts said Cross Country’s investment is important not only because of the number of jobs it creates, but because of the type of jobs offered. The customer care center is open 24-hours, and employees are expected to make above average wages for comparable positions.
Cross Country preferred not to disclose its pay scale, but according to Yahoo! Hot Jobs’ Salary Wizard, the median salary for entry-level call center representatives in Anderson is $25,085 a year.
The current average wage for all jobs in Anderson County is $13.84 per hour, and the county’s unemployment rate has fluctuated between 5 percent and 6 percent for the past year, Jones said.
She and Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston said this call center could be the start of a new industry cluster for the county.
In February 2007, Anderson became one of the first counties in South Carolina to take advantage of a new state law provision that allowed local governments to lower the requirements for extending tax credits to developers renovating vacant retail buildings.
Anderson County Council reduced the size requirement for incentives from 40,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. Properties must be vacant at least a year to qualify for the tax credit.
Unlike manufacturing plants, call centers work well in urban centers, Jones said. That industry has created an influx of interest in Anderson County’s vacant big box stores. Other potential call center sites could include Lakeside and Crossroads shopping centers on S.C. 28 Bypass.
“We think this is a great way to get those areas of our county up and running again,” she said.
Cross Country signed its lease last week and plans to open the call center by July 1, Jimmy Williams said.
Williams’ commercial development corporation, Commercial Holdings, purchased Windsor Place shopping center last year and started renovating the property soon after. Cross Country’s lease puts the shopping center at 85 percent capacity. Its other tenants include Palmetto Fitness, Family Dollar, Weight Watchers and Medi Home Care.
“With AnMed and some of the other retail and commercial ventures on that road, it’s a perfect fit for (S.C.) 81,” Roberts said.
The development news could keep coming for Anderson County. Preston said he expects to announce another major investment early next week.
IndependentMail.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post or respond to every suggestion for a comment to be removed.
Before you post, consider this:
Please read our official user-contributions policy.
Let us rejoice in the good news that the Anderson County Economic Development Team has brought us. What a good use for an old Winn Dixie store. Good work JP and Larry, Bill, Ron, Gracie and Michael. You give new meaning to WD's "the Beef People" slogan. Not a bad day's work for a team who's had one hand occupied fighting off incessant political attacks from the Bob and Cindy "transparency and open government" conspiracy. Enjoy the moment, as next week Bob and Cindy will be asking you how many long distance calls were made and who you had to take to lunch in order to land these 350 jobs.
Great Article!
350 local jobs is a wonderful achievement! And to attract the company to use an existing empty facility rather than creating a totally new one is fabulous! Applause and KUDOS to County Council and County Admin!
And excellent comment, too, Pallbearer! Unfortunately, there are always people out there that are perpetually negative about everything in life, and the only thing you can do is feel sorry and sympathize for them.
I appreciate those who have productive, positive attitudes and have nothing for those with destructive, negative attitudes. I appreciate your positive comments, and the positive and productive comments made by the other positive, productive readers.
Plain.
Simple.
Common Sense.
Capt. Leonardo Ortiz (USMM)
AT last, At last. After years of absolutely nothing, the EcoDev Dept. finally scores. Long, long overdue. We are happy for the new business and proud to see them come to Anderson. Funny though, JRP and HJ waited this close to election time to announce it. Will all 350 employees be located in the old grocery building? Just wondering.
Leo, many of us are still waiting for you to answer the plain and simple questions you have been asked. Are you waiting until you are on the Rick Driver show to answer?
figures that a piece of GREAT news finally happens in Anderson. For all the job losses and missed opportunities, it is indeed nice to say a few hundred citizens will be able to contribute to our local economy again.
Whats unfortunate is the Wilsonite movement has nothing positive to contribute towards bringing those jobs here, or acknowledging that fact in Transparent & Open terms....
in response to cwilson4
I think the only problem Miz Wilson4 has with this announcement is that she didn`t get to ask for hundreds of pages of documents,and talk it out of existance at our council meetings,No wonder the rest of our council try to keep her in the dark.She is one of the main reasons nobody will consider Anderson.And she probably didn`t make any commission like she did off Walgreens either.
This is exactly what Bill McAbee had in mind when he proposed the Big Box Retailer Resolution in February of 2007.
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2...
Now we have Hampton Furniture in one Rehabed Big Box on Whitehall (you really ought to go in there, the building is awesome and service is better) and most currently this announcement of 350+ jobs going into a newly renovated Big Box Retailer.
Sounds like McAbee understands Economic Development very well.
in response to aplummer
Actually, from what I understand on the "big box" tax credit from a simple Google search and a call to DOR, the property must have been used as retail in a "former life" as well as "retail reincarnated". I don't think for this reason, that Cross Country's announcement would qualify for the Big Box credit aplummer mentions in her post.
Great job. 350 jobs is a great thing for the county. Especially considering that these aren't retail or fast-food jobs.
I agree. The new jobs means that there will be that many more people being able to survive with the high food and gas prices.
On another note it was nice meeting you Capt Leo.I was very impressed by all your degrees and stuff and especially from the pictures you showed me of your cross country motorcycle trip. That must have been awesome going from Alaska to Key West on a motorcycle. You have done alot in your life.
The average wage is $13.84 an hour? That is almost $27,000 a year? Isn't minimum wage FAR below that? Just curious as to how someone arrived at that figure? What was it based on?
New jobs GREAT!!!!
Just hope it isnt like the car dealership in Anderson I use to work at. They got pd about 8/hr. The turn over rate was high in the call center. IF they didnt make so many apts to come into the dealership per day and if a certain amount of those apts didnt show...then guess what?
FIRED. I wont say the company's name, but it was a joke for those people in that call center.
BUT I saw where their pay was 13/hr, that is great! This is good news....
Great news for Anderson. Finally jobs that aren't retail or manufacturing. As much as I love retail and manufacturing - our economy is too reliant on both sectors. This branches us out in a good way. Bring more call centers.
In response to IPFreely,
There were several inaccuracies that I found in your statement so I felt I must set the record strait with references as not to lead any future investors astray.
The state law only makes reference to the prior use being retail. There is no requirement on future use being retail or commercial. You merely have to put it into use after being vacant for at least one year and being over 25,000 sq ft. I have referenced the code Bill McAbee proposed and Anderson County Council passed unanimously in February 2007.
http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/q...
Having the call center being there beats the building being empty, but it's a far cry from some great accomplishment.
Call centers are usually the type of thing that counties in the "Corridor of Shame" of SC tout has a huge coup.
Tiny countries offshore and in South America, as well as India, tout this "development."
It is a headline generated for politics a month out of an election. But, its not going to change the economic development landscape here much.
It's just good politics.
in response to altimachic6
Most, if not all, call centers are performance based. Just so happens this one MIGHT pay a little more.
in response to cwilson4
I am of the opinion that Capt. Leo is to smart to let Rick Driver make his living off him, or his campaign for political office,unlike some other people in the political arena, who think they need a Spin Doctor to cover up their shortcomings.
heidi should be ashamed of herself for writing this politically motivated piece. alot of fluff here.
"eventually will create roughly 350 jobs and $3 million worth of new investment."
sounds good. other than a computer network, phone system, and tables and chairs (which will all go with them if they fold) where are you going to get $3 million in investment?
"response to blind ads in Anderson County was overwhelming, drawing 24 applicants for every job, said Heather Jones, the county’s economic development director"
let's see is that 24 x 350=8400 or 24 x 100=2400? with a city population of, oh about 30,000, a county population of 180,000 and unemployment between "5% and 6%". I guess about every unemployed person in the county applied for this job. AMAZING! - also shows there are no other decent jobs in the area if EVERYONE is applying for this one!
"The development news could keep coming for Anderson County. Preston said he expects to announce another major investment early next week."
if you count this as a "major" investment we are doomed. let's count the investment JRP and Jones have chased away and see what the "net" is. add to that the gazillions spent in entertainment by the "economic development" crew. if you spend $1.01 to bring in $1 worth of business...pssst, you are going broke!
call centers are notorious for turnover. most are incentive based and "project" your income based on successful numbers and bonuses. most of those carrots seldom appear.
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
I think with a post name,like you are traveling under,you are flying false colors, as pirates used to say in the old days.I personally don`t think you could identify truth if you stepped in it.
in response to theflash
well no one expects a whole lot out of you anyway, so aren't you lucky!
and you're right, i keep stepping on your comments and there appears to be no truth there. it just sticks to my shoe and stinks.
InSearchOfTruth perfectly displays the ideology of those candidates (Bob Waldrep and Cindy Wilson) who are perpetuating the TOGA (trasparency and open government allegations) ruse. Good news just kills them and they desperately try to shoot holes in it. Vote Bob and Cindy out on June 10th and our community takes one giant leap back in the direction of being an All-America Community again. Elect TOGA's and be assured of at least 2 more years of strife and disharmony in County Government and general economic development.
in response to Pallbearer
i don't have to shoot holes in anything. heidi and other reporters that allow their own political picks to color their stories and the information they put forward, leaves gaps a truck could drive through. it is when you are reaching soooo hard to prove something, that exaggerations or fluff make your statements easily controverted or shown to be BS.
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
Sorry I have soiled your shoes,call me and I will certainly be glad to come and clean them for you, and anything else dirty that you have available.
Leo, we are still waiting for you to answer some questions. What are you hiding? Same kind of stuff that Joey Ray is hiding? Birds of a feather..........
Speaking of birds of a feather,something like Rick, Bob, and You? At least Capt.Leo isn`t making his living with his mouth,He does have a real business.Go visit him on the Belton Hwy.And let him know what you think in person.If you have the intestional fortitude.
in response to theflash
with all that money and education you may not qualify; but, they have very good FREE English and typing classes at the Adult Ed. Center. very lovely people there.
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
I have a better idea,Why don`t you come by and give me lessons.You seem to think you are above average when it comes to intelligence. I will be willing to pay by the hour,with a bonus if you hurry,I can`t wait to meet you.
in response to theflash
well thanks for your compliment (about being above average...your words not mine) but, i do not believe i have said anything that supports what you have suggesting. additionally, i don't think you can afford my hourly rate, because money cannot buy it.
it comes free of charge to the deserving!
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
And I don`t think the rate has as much to do with it.I think the face to face meeting is what you don`t want.Yes I think you are above average in the SKEERED catagory.
in response to theflash
haha good one! yep you got it pegged (whatever skeered means, is that even in the dictionary). it must be one of them words edgycashun taughtcha!
i think you would be a little more than surprised to know we see each other almost daily (or at least a couple to three times a week.)
Well if you aren`t afraid come up to me and identify yourself, and we can insult each other in person.That is if you are man enough.On the other hand if you are a friend of a certain radio talk show host i`ll understand why you won`t do this.And for your information SKEERED is redneck for coward.Do you fit in this catagory.
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
If you see me at least three times a week you must be either my wife or my dog,becouse most day`s I don`t leave my house.
Really, the current average pay here is about 7 to 9 dollars an hour. Let's get real people.
Has anyone been to the building lately to see how much work is going on?
-------------------------------------------------
WE HOPE FOR 350 JOBS BUT EXPECT NO MORE THAN 50
-------------------------------------------------
His wife may keep him locked in the house with a dog most of the time but I heard he got loose last Saturday morning between 10 and 11 AM, wanted some breakfast but was escorted back home hungry. Heard that at my biker bar.
-------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PRESTONITES...IT'S JUNE 1. 2008.
-------------------------------------------------
in response to cwilson4
Miz.Wilson,Idon`t know any self respecting biker`s that would have anything to do with you or any of your friend`s,Most bikers are pretty particular who they associate with.They usually prefer prostitutes,drug dealers and crooked politicians.On second thought maybe you do know a few of the old ugly ones,and I`ll bet they still ride Sportsters,not real HOGS.
(Requires free registration.)