| Brewer Call Center to Create 100 Jobs
BREWER — Consumer Response Solutions, a Biddeford-based direct response
call center operator, announced Tuesday that it will open a new facility in
Brewer. The expansion is expected to create more than 100 new jobs within a
matter of months.
Consumer Response Solutions, which employs approximately 150 at its facility at
64 Alfred St. in Biddeford, is in the process of setting up shop in some
now-vacant space in the Twin City Plaza on State Street.
‘‘Our business needed to expand in order to meet demand for our
services,’’ said Chris Austin, founder and president of CRS. ‘‘Our
growth demanded that we find a new site to establish a satellite call center and
Brewer fit the bill.’’
According to Austin, the availability of labor in the Greater Brewer area and
reasonable facility costs led him to look at Brewer for his expansion plans. He
added, however, that the help and support provided by city staff influenced his
final decision to locate here.
‘‘Every step of the way, the City Council and staff demonstrated that
they wanted us to succeed,’’ Austin said. ‘‘I am confident that we’ll
do well here.’’
Lee Vento, manager of the new Brewer location, said that the jobs CRS is
bringing to Brewer are high-value jobs for the community. Salary for these
positions is commission-based, he said, adding that the average call center
employee at CRS earns more than $13 an hour and receives a variety of health and
other benefits. City officials expressed delight this week about the company’s
expansion into Brewer and about the jobs the move will create.
Economic Development Director Drew Sachs said he understands the bulk of the
jobs will be full-time, but that employees who wish may work on a part-time
basis.
Said Mayor Eddie Campbell: ‘‘I am very pleased that CRS decided to come
to Brewer. It is yet another demonstration that our telecommunications
infrastructure, labor force and pro-business attitude is paying off for the
people of Brewer and Eastern Maine.’’
The call center, termed a direct response center, will only answer calls on
behalf of corporate clients. There will be no traditional telemarketing done at
this site.
Additional details about the company and its expansion are expected to become
available today, when officials from CRS, the city, members of Brewer’s state
legislative delegation, and the president of Eastern Maine Economic Development
Corp. gather at City Hall for a 1:30 p.m. press conference.
This is a copyright article written by Dawn Gagnon of the NEWS Staff that
appeared in the Bangor Daily News, Wednesday, March 15, 2000.
Economic Development News
Brewer Economic Development Office
D'arcy Main-Boyington
(207)989-7500
Brewer City Hall
80 North Main Street
Brewer, Maine 04412
dmain-boyington@brewerme.org
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