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May 10, 2008

Telemarketing company moving to Rusk

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The city of Rusk, the Rusk Economic Development Corporation and the Rusk Chamber of Commerce have successfully collaborated to bring ETECH, Inc. to downtown Rusk.

The telemarketing company, which services AT&T; cell phone customers, XM Radio subscribers and Capital One credit card users, is set to open a branch in the building on the corner of Fifth and Henderson streets on the square in Rusk.

Rusk council members approved a loan of $50,500 of 4A EDC monies for the purchase of furniture for the site — the first portion of an estimated $250,000 incentives package to the company — during a special meeting held Friday afternoon, upon the recommendation of Chamber Executive Director Bob Goldsberry.

“We feel this is an attractive package that’s very user friendly,” Goldsberry said.

The package offers the company loans and grants for initial start-up and other incentives based on performance and staffing in the future.

“They could start as soon as June — probably October at the latest,” Goldsberry said. “Set up will probably start next week.”

The Nacogdoches-based company first sought to locate in Jacksonville after Alliance Data Services closed, according to REDCO member Greg James, who has been instrumental in opening channels between the city and ETECH, in regards to the company’s move.

“I was involved in bringing the company to Nacogdoches when I was there,” James told Rusk council members, absent Kris Morgan and Sam Florian, on Friday during a special meeting. “They initially tried Jacksonville, but it just didn’t work out for a number of reasons.”

James said the company did labor force studies of the area recently and, with the closing of Alliance, thought a move to Cherokee County would be advantageous since former Alliance collection center personnel are already trained for the type of jobs they offer.

“They recognized the opportunity,” James said. “I think it’s a win-win proposition for the city.”

ETECH started with 40 to 60 jobs in the first year it opened in Nacogdoches, and now offers more than 600 jobs. James said the company’s target is at least 100 full and part-time jobs for the first year.

“I called the Nacogdoches chamber and they have nothing but positive things to say about ETECH,” Mayor Angela Raiborn said. “And they’re pay scale is pretty good.”

Raiborn said the company’s starting pay is about $25,000. The company also offers insurance, retirement benefits and a tuition package to its employees.

“It costs us nothing and we gain everything,” Councilman Walter Session said.

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