INFOCISION New center downtown hinges on aid

The call center would initially employ 150 and as many as 300 eventually.
YOUNGSTOWN -- InfoCision, an Akron area-based teleservice company, will open a call center in the Phar-Mor building downtown if state aid comes through for the project.
Steve Brubaker, senior vice president of corporate affairs, said that the move is contingent upon an incentive package from the Ohio Department of Development. He said the company expects to hear from the state by the middle of next week, and he said it looks "very good."
The new call center would be the company's fourth in the area and would initially employ 150 workers. Brubaker said the number of employees could go as high as 300 eventually.
The downtown call center could open as soon as the end of January or early February. He said once a decision is made by the company, openings tend to happen quickly.
Other centers
Currently, InfoCision has call centers in Boardman, Austintown and New Castle, employing just over 900 workers.
If the new call center opens, it will not affect those operations.
Brubaker said the response was very favorable to a newspaper test ad last weekend seeking employees regarding a possible downtown location.
Brubaker, noted that the Mahoning Valley has been a good place for InfoCision to operate and the company has enjoyed much success here.
"We have had the most success in this area than any other area we serve," he said.
"From day one, we've had an excellent employee base to draw from and performance of the team there has been exceptional," Brubaker said.
He said the Phar-Mor location has secure and private parking and all the other amenities InfoCision looks for in a call center location.
"We want to create a positive work environment, which is very important to us. It does seem that a renaissance is taking place [downtown]," said Brubaker.
In addition, he said the most significant changes to the area that InfoCision will be occupying will be for the installation of phone and computer systems and other technology. He said the move to downtown Youngstown will represent an investment of $1 million.
Brubaker added, "Whenever we expand, there's a significant increase in facilities and technology."
Closer to fruition
He said talks have been in the works with city and state officials for some time, but negotiations came much closer to fruition last month.
"It's a win-win for everyone. We've appreciated the support we've had with everyone and we're looking forward to a long-term relationship."
InfoCision has requested such incentives as tax abatements, and Brubaker said he's confident they'll come through.
InfoCision, the world's third-largest, privately held teleservice company, has 2,900 employees with locations in three states.
Brubaker revealed business has been very good and revenues for 2005 could climb as high as $150 million.
The company's clients include nonprofit charities, Christian fund-raising groups, Republican and conservative political candidates and volunteer recruitment efforts.