RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that StarTek, Inc., a Denver, Colorado-based business outsourcing company, has selected the City of Lynchburg for an in-bound call center. Through a $5.5 million investment, the company will create 542 full-time jobs over the next year. StarTek will locate the operation in the Plaza Shopping Center, which is an area the City of Lynchburg has targeted for economic revitalization. Virginia successfully competed with several other states for the project.
“I am pleased to welcome StarTek to the Commonwealth,” said Governor Warner. “This customer service facility will put more than 500 Virginians to work and revitalize a struggling area of Lynchburg’s downtown business district.”
StarTek, Inc. is a leading provider of business process outsourced services, which consist of business process management and supply chain management services. StarTek currently provides services from 18 operational facilities, including five in Colorado, five in Canada, two in Europe and one each in Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. The company’s clients are primarily in the telecommunications and computer software industries. StarTek also services clients in the computer hardware, consumer products, cable, entertainment, Internet and e-commerce industries.
“We chose Lynchburg as our first location in Virginia because of the people – a strong work ethic, solid communication skills, professional demeanor and a can-do attitude,” said Lance Zingale, Chief Operating Officer for StarTek, Inc.
Governor Warner approved a $150,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist the City of Lynchburg with the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia’s Region 2000, the City of Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and the Lynchburg Industrial Development Authority assisted StarTek with its decision. The company will take advantage of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance’s Workforce Services Program.
“We are pleased to welcome StarTek to the City of Lynchburg,” said Mayor Carl B. Hutcherson, Jr. “Today’s announcement is not only a great boost to the Lynchburg business community but also to this area of the city. We look forward to a very long and successful relationship with StarTek.”