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Verizon announced it is building a new facility for its Carolinas Region headquarters in order to accommodate a planned expansion of its customer service call center. Construction of the new $38 million, 192,000 square-foot facility in Mauldin, S.C. has already begun, and it is expected to be complete by January 2002. 
"We are extremely pleased that our headquarters will remain in Greenville County, and we are grateful to the state and local officials who worked with us to make it possible," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless' regional president - Carolinas. "The growth of our customer service call center furthers Verizon Wireless' commitment to providing outstanding service to our rapidly growing customer base. In addition, by expanding our regional headquarters, our company has also reiterated the commitment to keep decision-making as close to our customers as possible."
The expansion of the customer service call center at regional headquarters is expected to create as many as 750 jobs by 2005, mostly for skilled customer service representatives who will answer a growing number of customer calls from the Carolinas.
South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges says, "With its second major announcement, Verizon Wireless is demonstrating its confidence in our state's future. With its regional headquarters in Greenville, and the state-of-the-art call center in the Midlands, Verizon Wireless is impacting our state with more than 1,250 good jobs for South Carolinians. We are delighted the company will continue to call South Carolina its regional home."
Highwoods Properties Inc. owns and operates Brookfield Office Park where the new regional headquarters is being constructed. With a $17 million investment, Highwoods Properties has purchased the land and is paying its general contractor, Shelco Inc., to construct the actual facility. Verizon Wireless has signed a long-term lease agreement for the entire facility with Highwoods Properties. Grubb & Ellis/The Furman Co. served as Verizon Wireless' commercial real estate broker.
When construction of the facility is complete, Verizon Wireless will invest $21 million to upfit the office space and purchase necessary equipment.
Currently, Verizon Wireless' Carolinas Region has nearly 400 employees working at its 60,000 square-foot headquarters in Patewood Plaza in Greenville. Approximately 300 of those employees are customer service representatives. The company is expected to begin hiring new customer service representatives later this year.
Bob Hughes, chairman of the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce says, "As an active corporate citizen in the Upstate for a number of years, Verizon Wireless has demonstrated both its commitment and belief in this community. We're proud that Greenville has been able to provide the productivity, profitability and quality of life that Verizon Wireless finds so desirable."
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