[UPDATED] Affiliated Computer Services Announces 500 Jobs in Anderson

Winkler says the company will begin hiring immediately for about 200 workers, who they hope to have in place by the end of the year. He says the rest of the jobs will be added over the next three years.

Winkler says the Affiliated Computer Services deal could lead to other technology companies locating in the city. He says the city has been in talks with several companies, one which called over the weekend after learning of the ACS deal.

"The first hurdle to cross is getting the first business of that type," said Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith. He added "It can build and set the stage for greater growth and more technology companies."

Smith says the key to landing the new jobs is the diversification of the city's economy.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

Anderson, Ind. -- Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Kevin Smith joined executives from Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (NYSE: ACS) today to announce that the company will locate a customer care center here, creating 500 jobs.

The company plans to locate the new 26,000 square-foot center in the former Continental Inc. offices at 2710 Enterprise Drive and will begin hiring telecommunications and data operations specialists later this year.

“This fulfills the commitment made by IBM last year that the company and its partners would create 1,000 jobs for Hoosiers if selected to help us fix the state’s welfare system,” said Daniels. “Reducing waste and fraud and saving a half billion taxpayer dollars is a very large cake, but 1,000 new jobs is my favorite kind of icing.”

ACS’ decision to locate in Indiana follows IBM’s April 30 announcement that it would locate a new 500-person call center in nearby Daleville. ACS, a FORTUNE 500 company, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to commercial and government clients in more than 100 countries. The new center will service the company’s commercial customers.

“Our business is global but our commitment is local,” said Greg Dodge, ACS’ vice president of human resources. “Our new customer care center in Anderson will enable ACS to provide superior service to our clients as their business operations partner. We appreciate the work ethic and business attributes theCity of Anderson and its residents bring to ACS.”

ACS anticipates hiring 200 associates at the new Anderson customer care center by the end of the year and an additional 200 associates by December 2008. The company plans to hire the remaining complement of new employees by the end of 2010. The associates at the new facility will not provide service to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration but will serve the company’s commercial, private sector clients from potentially the financial services, telecommunications and healthcare sectors.

“ACS is a global company that will create new opportunities for Anderson,” said Smith. “In addition, ACS is a company that values diversity; they have said that their workforce will mirror the Anderson and Madison County community. It is their policy to seek diverse and qualified individuals for employment. ACS’ commitment demonstrates that our efforts to create a new economy for our city are working, and we look forward to a long and successful future with ACS in Anderson.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered ACS up to $200,000 in training grants based upon the company’s job creation plans. The City of Anderson offered the company property tax abatement and up to $850,000 in site improvements.

In addition to today’s announcement, IBM and its partners have committed to hiring 1,500 Hoosiers to modernize the computer services of the Family and Social Services Administration. As part of the modernization project, IBM also committed to upgrade the supercomputer located at Indiana University and create a technology design center at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis.

About ACS
ACS, a global FORTUNE 500 company with 60,000 people supporting client operations reaching more than 100 countries, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS." ACS makes technology work. Visit ACS on the Internet at http://www.acs-inc.com.

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is the state’s premier entity charged with economic development. The IEDC has a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mitch Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman is also chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.IN.gov.

Source: Indiana Economic Development Corporation