75 jobs coming to Oromocto
Published Wednesday August 18th, 2010
Call centre | Government providing loan of $6,000 per job to company
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By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
A new contact centre with 75 jobs is setting up in Oromocto.
The official announcement will be made today in the model town.
"Virtual-Agent Services is announcing the establishment of a contact centre in Oromocto," said Finance Minister and Fredericton-Lincoln Liberal MLA Greg Byrne on Tuesday.
"They will create 75 new jobs."
He said VAS has been in New Brunswick for more than 11 years.
"They are a very successful business and they employ more than 950 people," said Byrne. "They have centres throughout the province, many in rural communities."
The company has centres in Bristol, Doaktown, Stanley, Nackawic, Perth-Andover, Minto, St. Louis, Hillsboro, St. George, Neguac, Rogersville, Petitcodiac, Chipman, Sussex, Plaster Rock and St. Andrews, he said.
"These jobs are welcomed by the community in which they are located," said Byrne. "They often provide families with second incomes."
He said VAS has pioneered the distributed workforce concept through Bell Aliant.
While the centres are spread across the province, they're linked by a common telephone system so it acts as one virtual operation, said Byrne.
"Despite the economic crisis and despite the many challenges that businesses are facing, they have been able to grow their business and create new opportunities," said Byrne. "We are proud to be a partner."
He said the province is providing financial assistance to VAS in the amount of $6,000 per job, or about $450,000.
"It's a forgivable loan, so they have to maintain those jobs during the contract period in order to be eligible," he said. "Usually when they establish a centre they grow well beyond their initial expectations."