Job Creation

South Dakota Teams up With Eagle Creek Software to Create 1000 Jobs

Eagle Creek Software Services announced a partnership with the state of South Dakota and city of Vermillion to bring 1,000 rural high-tech jobs to the state.

Eagle Creek Software Services

Eagle Creek Software Services (photo – eaglecrk.com)

As a start, the company is building a $10 million technology center in Vermillion which will house 200 of these jobs.

“This is a great day for South Dakota and the resurgent technology business in America,” said SD Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “With a $10 million investment in the Vermillion community and new career path for University of South Dakota students, we are on track to create meaningful jobs that will benefit the community and make South Dakota more globally competitive in the information technology sector.”

Through a partnership with the Board of Regents and the University of South Dakota (USD), the newly launched Information Technology Consultant Academy will provide eligible students with a scholarship and a strategic career track to employment as an IT consultant.

“Technical skills are only one piece of core IT competencies. Today’s IT reality requires an understanding of U.S. business practices, communications skills beyond technology and a focus on time-to-market. By better educating our workforce, Eagle Creek Software Services can create a more sustainable and scalable IT solution while growing jobs in America,” said Ken Behrendt, president of Eagle Creek Software Services.

The IT Consultant Academy at USD will create a well-trained local workforce in South Dakota who can take advantage of high paying jobs. Graduates of the certificate program can expect to make between $40,000 to 45,000. Students with a master’s may earn in between $50,000 to $60,000.

“The challenges of today’s job market call for new skills and approaches,” said James W. Abbott, president of the University of South Dakota. “Our mission as a university should be to prepare students to succeed in an increasingly high-tech workforce. We applaud and are proud to partner with Eagle Creek on this innovative project. The Information Technology Consultant Academy will put students on a career path for success.”

“Vermillion is already known as a destination for world class higher education,” said Steve Howe of the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company. “This announcement further positions our city as a leader in technology and a global force in the IT industry. Vermillion is proud to be on the forefront of South Dakota’s technology surge.”

Minneapolis-based Eagle Creek Software Services employs more than 300 consultants, and has developed a services delivery model which they call the “Dakota Model.” It utilizes U.S.-based project centers in North Dakota and South Dakota, and this latest project in Vermillion is being labeled as an expansion of the Dakota Model.

Study – UAS Industry to Create 70,000 Jobs in Three Years

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) unveiled a new study which finds that the unmanned aircraft industry is poised to create more than 70,000 new American jobs in the first three years following the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. national airspace system (NAS).

UAS economic impact study

UAS economic impact study (photo – auvsi.org)

Integration is scheduled to take place in 2015. Beyond the first three years, the study projects that more than 100,000 new jobs will be created by 2025.

Highlights from the study:-

1. Economic impact of UAS-NAS integration will total more than $13.6 billion in the first three years, and will cumulatively add up into $82.1 billion for the decade from 2015 to 2025.

2. Out of the more than 70,000 jobs created in the first three years, 34,000 or more will be manufacturing jobs. The industry will support 103,776 jobs by 2025.

3. Tax revenue to the states will total more than $482 million in the first 11 years.

4. Every year the UAS-NAS integration is put off results in a loss of $10 billion in economic impact, or $27.6 million per day.

The economic impact and benefits are skewed heavily in favor of a handful of states. The top five are California, Washington, Texas, Florida and Arizona.

California has the biggest slice of the pie, with an economic impact of $2.39 billion and 12,292 jobs by 2017. Washington gets $1.312 billion and 6746 jobs, while Texas is the last member of the billion-dollar impact club with $1.087 billion in economic impact and 5588 jobs.

You can see an interactive map of the state-by-state economic impact here.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for an industry developing technology that will benefit society, as well as the economy,” said Michael Toscano, president and CEO of AUVSI. “Integrating UAS into the national airspace will lead to new and expanded uses, which means the creation of quality, high-paying American jobs.”

The study notes that future events – such as the establishment of FAA Test Sites – will ultimately determine where many of the tens of thousands of new jobs will flow.

“While we project more than 100,000 new jobs by 2025, states that create favorable regulatory and business environments for the industry and the technology will likely siphon jobs away from states that do not,” wrote the report’s author, Darryl Jenkins, a former professor at George Washington University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Read the full UAS economic impact report from AUVSI.

Tinderbox Gets $1.37M Tax Credits for Indianapolis Expansion

Indianapolis-based Tinderbox, Inc., a sales and marketing software solutions provider, announced plans today to expand its operations in Indiana.

Indiana

Indiana (photo – in.gov)

Tinderbox plans to invest $540,000 to grow its cloud-based platform business, and will be adding 95 new jobs by 2016.

“High-tech, high-wage jobs at a homegrown company is the latest positive momentum for our economy,” said IN Governor Mike Pence. “More than anything else, job growth depends on building a pro-business environment, and Tinderbox’s decision reaffirms that Indiana is a place where high-tech business makes sense.”

Launched in 2010, TinderBox provides software for sales and marketing teams to accelerate the customer acquisition process.

The company services clients such as Angie’s List, Dominion Dealer Solutions and Delivra with a comprehensive management solution for marketing and sales content, including proposals, sales presentations and contracts.

“Tinderbox is a great success story illustrating our efforts to keep our homegrown Hoosier companies right here in Indianapolis,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “Despite strong competition against cities in the Midwest and on the west coast, we have proven once again that our work in cultivating a strong and inviting business community brings results.”

To secure the expansion, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Tinderbox, Inc. up to $1,375,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $55,000 in training grants. The City of Indianapolis will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of Develop Indy.

Dustin Sapp, founder and president of TinderBox, was among the group of entrepreneurs labeled “Indiana’s Tech Dream Team” who represented Indiana at the White House for a meeting last month with administration officials including Todd Park, chief technology officer of the U.S.

At that time, Isaac Pellerin, revenue marketing manager for Tinderbox, said in a blog post that they were “proud of the culture of innovation that we’re part of in Indianapolis.”

This belief apparently made it easier for them to make the expansion decision in favor of Indiana. “It was an easy decision to choose Indiana as the place to expand with its growing high-tech sector and stable business climate,” said Sapp. “We’re looking forward to a successful future of economic impact here in Indianapolis.”

Metlife Relocates 2600 Jobs to North Carolina

Global life insurance giant MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) intends to create 2,600 jobs in Charlotte and Cary, North Carolina by the end of 2015. This is the largest jobs announcement in recent North Carolina history.

NC Gov. Pat McCrory at MetLife event

NC Gov. Pat McCrory at MetLife event (photo – NC Governor’s Office)

“We’re proud that a strong corporate partner like MetLife has decided to invest in North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “These jobs will complement our financial services sector in Charlotte and our high-tech hub in Wake County, two distinct sectors we want to expand.”

MetLife plans to establish hubs for its U.S. Retail Business in Charlotte and for its Global Technology and Operations organization in Cary. To this end, the company expects to invest $125.5 million into its new Mecklenburg and Wake County campuses.

These 2,600 jobs, paying average annual wages of $82,000, are positions being relocated to North Carolina from two locations in California and from five states in the east – Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Metlife was enticed in part by a massive state and local incentives package that adds up to $100 million. Metlife was approved for a performance-based state Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG). The twelve annual grants equal to 75 percent of the state personal income tax withholdings from the eligible new jobs created, which could add up to $87.2 million.

As much as $29.09 million in additional funds from the company’s JDIG award could be added to the state’s Utility Fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties.

Metlife is also getting a grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $2 million. Community colleges in the state are pitching in with $5 million in training assistance. Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte are in the process of approving $2.9 million in local grants. Wake County and the Town of Cary are likewise expected to approve another $4 million.

“We would like to thank Governor McCrory, Commerce Secretary Decker, Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, Wake County and the Town of Cary for their partnership through this process,” said Marty Lippert, executive vice president, MetLife. “MetLife is pleased to be joining the other great companies that make up the North Carolina business community.”

“North Carolina has much to offer our employees and the company. The strong sense of community in Cary and Charlotte, as well as the region’s robust infrastructure and sustainable talent pool were all compelling reasons for coming here,” added Eric Steigerwalt, executive vice president, MetLife.

New York-based MetLife has more than 66,000 employees, of which around 23,000 are administrative positions spread around the northeast.

USAA Announces Expansions With 3500 New Jobs

San Antonio, Texas-based financial services firm United Services Automobile Association (USAA) announced expansion plans in San Antonio and Phoenix, Arizona.

USAA HQ in San Antonio, TX

USAA HQ in San Antonio, TX (photo – usaa.com)

The company will be adding as many as 3,500 net new jobs over the next three years, starting with 1,000 jobs each in San Antonio and Phoenix by 2015.

“Demand has never been stronger for all that USAA offers, and we need to continue to have the best employees in sufficient numbers,” said USAA CEO Joe Robles. “We’re committed to every community where we currently have operations and are expanding first in San Antonio and Phoenix.”

The San Antonio expansion could bring as many as 1,000 new jobs by the end of 2015 to its headquarters community where it already employs more than 16,400 people.

To supplement its main campus, which USAA estimates is at nearly 90 percent capacity, it will occupy additional leased space in the San Antonio area.

“When you consider jobs, local investment and community involvement, USAA is at the top of the list of corporate partners in San Antonio,” Mayor Julián Castro said. “This expansion represents the coming together of USAA’s stellar business performance and San Antonio’s status as one of the top-performing local economies in the nation.”

In Phoenix, USAA plans to break ground next month on construction of a 380,000-square-foot expansion of its existing campus in northern Phoenix. The larger office space is expected to house as many as 1,000 new employees by the end of 2015.

“We have always had a close working relationship with USAA since they moved to Phoenix, and their decision to increase employment is a reflection of that close working relationship,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said. “USAA creates great jobs for Phoenix and great work for veterans. We will continue to work relentlessly on bringing high-quality jobs like these to Phoenix.”

USAA also announced that, as per their hiring policy, 25 percent of all the new hires will be military veterans or spouses.

“Providing career opportunities for veterans is more than simply doing what is right,” says USAA chief administrative officer Shon Manasco. “The skills these men and women are able to bring to the table should be valuable to any employer.”

Since 2005, USAA has hired more than 6,000 military veterans and spouses. Overall, USAA has 24,000 employees, of which around 16,400 are located in San Antonio, Texas.

CenturyLink Breaks Ground for 800-Job HQ Expansion in Louisiana

CenturyLink CEO and President Glen F. Post III was accompanied by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and others for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Fortune 500 company’s new Technology Center of Excellence at CenturyLink’s corporate headquarters in Monroe, La.

CenturyLink

CenturyLink (photo – centurylink.com)

The 250,000-square-foot expansion to the existing 365,000-square-foot corporate headquarters is a huge project, and will create 800 new jobs.

The building is expected to be awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) estimates the headquarters expansion will result in 1,170 new indirect jobs in the greater Monroe area, and the building project will create an additional 350 construction jobs at peak activity.

“CenturyLink is one of Louisiana’s greatest success stories, and we’re proud that they chose to build on that success by capitalizing on our strong business climate and expanding their headquarters here at home,” said Gov. Jindal.

These jobs, combined with a prior 350-job expansion announced in 2009, will contribute $67.7 million in new annual payroll by 2016, pushing CenturyLink’s statewide annual payroll in Louisiana beyond the $200 million mark. The company will then have 2,600 employees in the Monroe area.

“We are very pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of the CenturyLink Technology Center of Excellence with our employees, our community and our business partners,” Post said. “We look forward to continuing to grow CenturyLink’s presence in Northeastern Louisiana, and to working with individuals and organizations to make the region an even better place to live and work.”

The State of Louisiana will contribute up to $14.9 million toward the headquarters expansion, at a rate of $1 for every $2 spent by CenturyLink. The company, which hasn’t yet established the final project cost, will begin the building construction in May 2013.

“We are extremely proud of CenturyLink for choosing to make this corporate investment,” said Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo. “The 800 new jobs at the CenturyLink Technology Center of Excellence will help attract and retain intellectual capital and support jobs to our city. This expansion to CenturyLink’s Monroe campus is a sign of their commitment to the economic vitality of our city, parish and region.”

CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE:CTL) is the nation’s third-largest telecommunications company and a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for business customers. It has more than 47,500 employees around the world.

CenturyLink is the top economic driver company in Northeast Louisiana, and one of the top 10 economic drivers in Louisiana’s private sector statewide. Last year, the company generated $18.4 billion in annual revenue and $947 million in net income.

Northrop Grumman Designates Centers of Excellence in FL, CA, NY

Falls Church, Virginia-based Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), one of the largest defense contractors in the world, announced today it is designating five centers of design and integration excellence in Florida, California and New York.

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman (photo – northropgrumman.com)

Specific programs and the associated jobs will be consolidated into these five centers. Florida is expected to gain more than 1,000 net new jobs out of the consolidation process.

The two designated Northrop Grumman Centers of Excellence in Melbourne and St. Augustine in Florida are expected to add 920 and 80 new jobs respectively.

“We are grateful for Northrop Grumman’s existing presence in our state and that they have chosen to establish two new centers of excellence here – one in St. Augustine and one in Melbourne,” said Florida Gov. Rick Scott. “More companies continue to move here from other states like New York and California because Florida is committed to cutting taxes and eliminating regulations to help job creators succeed at creating more jobs.”

The Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence will be located in Melbourne, Fla., and will include aircraft design work currently being performed at the company’s Bethpage, NY facility in Long Island.

The company said it would be moving 850 jobs out of Long island by next year. Some of the displaced workers at Bethpage will be offered transfers to Florida or California.

“Northrop Grumman’s continued investment in the state is a testament to Florida’s competitiveness and supportive business climate,” said Gray Swoope, FL Secretary of Commerce and president and CEO of Enterprise Florida. “The importance of having strong strategic partners cannot be overstated: Governor Scott, Enterprise Florida and the professional economic development teams in both communities and the region made it possible to move quickly and to put together a competitive case for Northrop Grumman to grow its presence in Florida.”

The company has additionally designated two Aircraft Integration Centers of Excellence, one in Palmdale, CA, and the other in St. Augustine, FL. The Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence will be located at the company’s Rancho Bernardo facility in San Diego, CA. The last one is an Electronic Attack Center of Excellence in Bethpage, NY.

“Consolidating these centers of excellence will improve our strategic alignment with our customers’ need for increasingly innovative and affordable products, services and solutions,” said Wes Bush, chairman, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman. “We continuously examine our operational capacity to determine how we can leverage it in the most efficient and cost-competitive manner. Given the current budget environment, it is imperative that we act to enhance future performance, innovation and affordability for our customers.”

As part of the austerity measures being taken, Northrop Grumman announced plans to close an Information Systems sector facility in Dominguez Hills, California. Work being done there will be transitioned in phases to other company facilities beginning in 2013. Northrop Grumman also announced plans to complete the closure of an electronic systems facility in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Automotive Finance Co. NextGear Expands HQ in Carmel, IN

NextGear Capital, an automotive financial services provider, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce the latest addition to their corporate campus in Carmel, Indiana.

NextGear Capital

NextGear Capital (photo – nextgearcapital.com)

The company is investing $19.5 million for the expansion, which is expected to create 169 new jobs.

“Indiana’s business climate is a magnet for high-growth companies across the country,” said Indiana Governor Mike Pence. “Our first-rate workforce, fiscal stability and low tax structure continue to position the Hoosier State for additional growth from well-respected firms like NextGear Capital. Indiana is open for business.”

In order to secure the project, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered NextGear Capital up to $1,300,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $60,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

“We are extremely excited to be expanding our corporate campus in Carmel,” said Brian Geitner, president of NextGear Capital. “We have seen solid growth in our customer base over the past couple of years and this expansion will allow us to continue to provide the solutions necessary to service our customers as they continue to grow their business.”

NextGear provides inventory financing programs for more than 17,000 automotive dealers across the country, and will finance more than $10 billion-worth of inventory in 2013.

NextGear previously expanded its Carmel headquarters in 2009, when it invested $6.4 million and added 60 new jobs. This latest $19.5 million expansion is being spent to lease and renovate a second 33,000 square-foot Carmel office to house its dealer services, auction services and business development center.

“I am pleased that NextGear Capital has invested in our community and is continuing to expand in Carmel,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. “Our focus and commitment to a high quality of life is always key in attracting and retaining business. This increased economic growth continues to provide excellent employment opportunities in our community.”

NextGear Capital is a subsidiary of Manheim, the world’s largest provider of vehicle remarketing services operating in more than 100 markets across North America.

NextGear currently has 200 associates in Carmel, Indiana and 400 worldwide. The company plans to add an additional 225 jobs over the next 18 to 24 months.

AREVA to Relocate North American HQ to Charlotte, NC

French Nuclear Energy company AREVA will be expanding its operations in Charlotte, North Carolina to include its North American headquarters, which is currently located in Bethesda, Maryland.

AREVA

AREVA (photo – charlottechamber.com)

AREVA currently employs 562 people in Charlotte and another 78 at its Columbiana Hi Tech subsidiary located in Greensboro.

The company plans to create 130 high-paying new jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2016 and invest $404,000 into its Mecklenburg County location.

Compensation will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs is expected to be more than $130,000 plus benefits.

“We are working to make our state the very best place to live and do business,” said NC Governor Pat McCrory. “Businesses have choices, and we are proud that AREVA has chosen North Carolina for its headquarters.”

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based award from the state Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program. Under the terms of the company’s JDIG award, AREVA is eligible to receive up to nine annual grants equal to 65 percent of the state personal income tax withholdings from the eligible new jobs created.

Over nine years, the JDIG award could yield aggregate benefits to AREVA of upto $2.5 million. In addition, up to $851,000 in additional funds from the company’s JDIG award could be added to the state’s Utility Fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties.

“North Carolina is a great place to do business because of its quality of life, extensive business infrastructure, investments in workforce development and commitment to forming partnerships with industry,” said Michael W. Rencheck, CEO of AREVA.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce, Mecklenburg County, City of Charlotte, the Charlotte Chamber and Duke Energy were all involved in securing the project for the state.

“The Charlotte Chamber is honored to be a part of AREVA’s dynamic growth and commitment to our city and state. Announcements such as this provide further proof of our emerging energy hub status,” said Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber president.

AREVA has 46,000 employees worldwide, including 5,000 employees at more than 40 locations in North America.

European Commission Launches Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso today called on Europe’s digital businesses, governments, training and education sectors to join a Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs to address up to 900,000 job vacancies expected to exist in Europe in Information and Communication technologies (ICT) by 2015.

European Commission HQ

European Commission HQ (photo credit – EU – europa.eu)

The number of digital jobs is growing by more than 100,000 per year, but the number of fresh ICT graduates and skilled ICT workers is not keeping up.

“The Grand Coalition we launch today is an essential part of getting Europe’s economy back on track and finding jobs for some of Europe’s 26 million unemployed,” said Barroso. “I applaud those companies who have signed up today. If, together, we can turn the tide and fill the growing number of ICT vacancies, we will see a much wider impact across the whole economy. We want to empower Europeans to fill the jobs that will drive the next ICT revolution.”

Initial commitments from have been obtained from over 15 companies and organizations that have signed on to the Grand Coalition.

Nokia, Telefónica, SAP, Cisco, HP, Alcatel-Lucent, Randstad, ENI, Telenor Group, ARM, as well as the CIO community, CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies) and Digital Europe have made pledges on new jobs, internships, training places, start-up funding, free online university courses and more.

The mandate of the Grand Coalition runs from 2013 to 2015 with a review foreseen at the end of this term. As per the framing document, the Grand Coalition will be focusing on five main actions:-

1. Training and matching for digital jobs;

2. Collective action to solve mobility problems (e.g. set up a language class for ICT practitioners hired by several companies in a given region).

3. Certification;

4. Attracting young people to ICT – awareness raising; and

5. Attracting people to ICT: innovative learning and teaching.

This last one will need more aligned educational schemes as well as structural changes inside the educational systems. The document suggests boosting ICT education and training via attractive work-based learning schemes, more efficient teacher professional development schemes, etc.

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