On Monday, a post from The Business Journals website, a media source that provides comprehensive coverage of business news from a local, regional and national perspective, reported that Direct Energy is seeking to build a new call center in the Dayton, OH, area. What this means is that it could bring as many as 550 new jobs, the post says. The company that employs 60 in Dayton at a division called Airtron Heating & Cooling now is planning on establishing a center to be in the Miami Township, Dayton-region.
Direct Energy, a large retail provider of electricity, natural gas, and home services (HVAC installation and repairing services, for example), is a well-known organization that says it aims at helping customers save money and electricity (lately with free power in Texas). At present, it is involved in a project (one that is estimated to cost $8.6 million and is in the hands of a subsidiary, UK-based Centrica PLC, an integrated energy company) to develop a “three-story, 66,000 square-foot call center to expand on its presence at a 7.9 acre site at 2700 Lyons Road.” The worksite of the call center is in Miamisburg, OH.
According to Chris Snyder, economic development director for the township, an application is seeking $500,000 in economic development funds from Montgomery County, OH, for the site that has yet to be approved. He says there is a tight time line to put across a decision to go ahead with the build and obtain approval for the construction. Snyder said Centrica PLC would not wait until the fall to begin the project, adding “there are locations in Columbus, Indianapolis, and Houston also being considered for the center.”
At present, the hold-up is “with local economic development agencies and the office developer who are working to attract this opportunity… [They are] offered a very small window to present their best proposal [for] the potential expansion. […] Economic development officials have termed this plan, for the whereabouts of the call center, “Project Dugout.”
“The ultimate selection of the location will hinge on the most attractive site based on employee demographics and overall cost of operation, including any and all available incentives and subsidiaries,” Salzer said in a letter to the township. He also added that the project is expected to be completed quite soon with engineering and site design beginning in May, construction in July, with occupancy expected in February 2015.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson