Narayan AmmachchiStarTek has unveiled plans to launch a call center in South Carolina, promising to create more than 600 jobs in the Myrtle Beach area. The US outsourcing firm, which has often talked of bringing back the jobs shipped overseas, will invest approximately $10 million in the new facility.
StarTek’s investment will result in an annual economic impact exceeding $45 million, according to Coastal Carolina University.
The customer support center – to be located at Towne Center in the Carolina Forest section of Horry County – will be jointly developed under a public-private partnership consisting of the company, a local development team, and a host of public and private sector partners.
Until the facility is fully renovated, StarTek, which is based in Denver, Colorado, will devote its time to employee training at a temporary space provided by Horry Georgetown Technical College at its Grand Strand Campus. The call center is scheduled to be launched some time in the first half of 2014.
“Factors that contributed to the company’s site selection decision include the quantity and quality of the area workforce, proximity to training resources at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, telecommunications infrastructure in the area, and the quality of life in the Myrtle Beach area,” StarTek stated.
The regional investment promotion agency, Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation (MBREDC), has recently been focusing on attracting outsourcing services firms because of the number of jobs they create. StarTek’s expansion marks the tenth announcement for MBREDC since January 2012, bringing the total announced job count to 1,425.
“We have worked tirelessly and have pulled all of our resources together to make this project possible,” said Mark Lazarus, Horry County Council Chairman. “With over 600 new jobs, the economic impact of this project is of regional and statewide significance.”
Local governments have already approved incentives to StarTek, in addition to other support such as tax breaks.
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