Verizon picks Tulsa for 500-job financial services center [Tulsa World, Okla.]

(Tulsa World (OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 19-- Verizon considered numerous locations for its new 500-job financial services hub, but after an extensive review the telecommunications giant chose Tulsa, a company official said Friday.

"Once the valuation was complete, Tulsa emerged as an ideal location," said Michelle Robinson, vice president for external relations-south area.

"We chose Tulsa for a number of very sound business reasons, including the very simple fact that it's a fantastic place to live, work and generally do business," she said.

Robinson and others made the announcement during a news conference at Verizon's facility in Cherokee Industrial Park, where it already employs 900 people in customer service and other duties.

She noted that the additional jobs, which will handle accounts payable, accounting and related financial activities for Verizon's wholesale and enterprise segments, would be "high-paying," though she would not specify an income range.

The positions would start to be filled in the third quarter of the year and ramp up through 2015.

Gov. Mary Fallin, speaking during the gathering, said it was exciting to have a Fortune 500 company decide to expand in Tulsa.

"This is a big deal," she said. "We knew that Verizon had many other options and places they could look at to add jobs and make investments." Robinson said various factors that caused New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. to choose Tulsa was the area's quality of life, its low cost of living and its strong labor pool.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the move in a news release.

"Tulsa continues to establish itself as a national leader in job creation," he said.

"The commitment of outstanding companies such as Verizon helps us solidify our place as a top city and region for many areas of economic development, and we congratulate Verizon on its continued success and growth." Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, said the announcement was one of the most significant the area has seen in recent years.

"Verizon's decision to build a new hub employing more than 500 skilled workers is a tremendous boost to our region's economic development efforts and reflects the spirit and commitment of Verizon as they continue a tradition of growth and investment in Tulsa," he said.

"Verizon is well-positioned in the marketplace, and our community is fortunate that, among its many national locations, that Tulsa was chosen for their vital financial services hub." Neal estimated the Verizon jobs will support an additional 616 jobs in the regional economy and have an impact of $60.4 million in total income.

The expansion won't involve any physical growth. Instead, Verizon will fill unused space in its building at 6929 N. Lakewood Ave. in the industrial park.

The facility already houses wholesale sales, information services, engineering, network operations, finance, customer service, marketing, corporate facilities and real estate, legal, credit, collections and human resources operations for Verizon.

WorldCom originally purchased the building from Memorex-Telex in 1995 for $8.5 million, and eventually increased the office space to 1 million square feet. WorldCom and MCI Communications merged in 1997. MCI, in turn, was acquired by Verizon in 2006.

Verizon leases space in the building to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Capital One Auto Finance Inc.

Large new operations in the Tulsa area COMPANY AREA OF OPERATIONS # of jobs announced 2013 Verizon financial operations center 500 2012 Clear Edge Filtration equipment manufacturing 180 Piping Enterprise Co. welding and furnace projects 180 2011 Cherokee Nation Gov. Solutions headquarters 375 2010 CFS II debt-collection management 200 2009 Holly Corp. petroleum refining 385 2008 Verizon telecommunications support 400 2007 Shaw Industries pipe manufacturing 300 Coca Cola Enterprises support center 300 Gannett Co. customer service center 500 Sources: Bob Ball, Tulsa Regional Chamber economist Robert Evatt 918-581-8447 robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com ___ (c)2013 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at www.tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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