On July 18, 2013 the city of Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history by debt, which was estimated at $18–20 billion. Since that filing, the city and surrounding areas have been making progress to get the region up and running. This includes ensuring the manufacturing base the state is known for remains there, and introducing new industries in Detroit and neighboring cities. The city of Troy, a suburb of Detroit, is adding 420 new call center jobs with the opening of a new center by S&P Data Michigan LLC, a subsidiary of California based S&P Data LLC.
According to a recent story in crainsdetroit.com, Troy was chosen by the company over competing cities in Ohio and Ontario. One of the reasons for choosing Troy is probably the $1 million performance-based grant the company received to open its new center.
The grant was given by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), which according to the organization will generate almost $4.4 million in private investment with the expansion. The purpose of MEDC is to market Michigan with many of the opportunities and grants it offers to businesses so they can make the state their home. This includes: business assistance services and capital programs for business attraction and acceleration; entrepreneurship; strategic partnerships; talent enhancement; and urban and community development.
The new S&P Data LLC center will be housed in the Troy Officentre complex with 156,000 square feet of leased space.
The company operates in five locations in three cities: Ontario, Cleveland and San Diego, making Troy the sixth location and its first in Michigan. As a provider of contact center solutions to Fortune 500 companies in the United States and Canada, S&P Data can call some of the most globally recognized companies as it customers, including American Express, Apple (News - Alert), McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz, Sprint, UPS and many others.
"S&P Data’s investment means Michigan residents will find good job opportunities that could well have gone to other states,” said Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (News - Alert). “Michigan is America’s comeback state and this expansion is another demonstration that we have changed Michigan in ways that now means more and better jobs and greater prosperity."