Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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July 30, 2008

Incentive package OKd by city council may create jobs

By Lauren Ricks STAFF WRITER

The Athens City Council approved a request at Monday night’s regular meeting to offer an employment-based incentive for a local business.

The proposal, brought forth by Athens Economic Development CEO Chris Potter, intends to create new jobs at Maximus, Inc. The agreement will begin on Aug. 1, 2008, and end on Dec. 31, 2008.

The company is a call center operation in the healthcare industry for the state of Texas, according to Potter. He said the company works in the health and human services and children’s health insurance sectors.

AEDC gave an incentive to the previous managers of the call center, Accenture, which ended on Feb. 2, 2008. Potter said the company earned $577,000 in new full time employees.

Maximus has Texas-based offices in Austin, San Antonio, Midland and Athens.

“Maximus is a 30-year, global firm,” Potter said.

He said the company has a total of 6,000 employees.

The company employs 235 people locally, salaries ranging from $23,000 to $58,000 annually. Maximus operates at 891 West Corsicana Street, formerly the K-Mart building.

Potter said the company is expected to add an additional 50 to 100 jobs over the next year.

“It will create approximately 60 new jobs and represent $200,000 in new building improvements and $2.5 million in payroll,” Potter said.

The incentive package offers a $2,000 benefit for a new employee earning between $20,000 and 29,999 annually; $3,000 benefit for a new employee earning $30,000 and $39,999 annually; and 10 percent of gross pay for an employee earning $40,000 up to $80,000 per year.

Council member Elaine Jenkins said the agreement will create jobs.

“I think it is a good thing. It will hire a lot of people,” she said.

Communications director with Maximus, Inc., Gregory Mt Joy said the employment-based incentive package will allow the company to help the local economy grow and expand job opportunities with Maximus.

“We want to have a verification from the Texas Workforce Commission to make sure new employees are full-time,” Potter said. “To protect the tax-payers dollars before we provide the benefit.”

He said Maximus’ potential benefit can range from about $100,000 to $200,000.

The council also:

• appointed Jerry Waddell to the Airport Advisory Board; and

• approved the first reading of a zoning ordinance allowing Trinity Valley Community College to build an electronic sign. Director of Planning and Development Gary Crecelius said the sign will be just under 90 square feet.

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