Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Arvato, a leading provider of digital services, will expand its call center facility in Buncombe County. The company plans to create 408 jobs and invest $1.8 million during the next three years in Weaverville. The project was made possible in part by a $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“Creating jobs is my number one priority and North Carolina continues to be an attractive market for the growing high-tech and customer service sectors,” said Gov. Perdue. “These four hundred new jobs are great for Buncombe County and proof of North Carolina’s top-ranked business climate.”
Arvato Digital Services is a leading provider of a range of comprehensive services and integrated solutions to business partners in the IT, high-tech, gaming, video and audio sectors. Arvato Digital Services is part of Arvato AG, a division of Bertelsmann AG, headquartered in Germany. Arvato has over 60,000 employees in 35 countries; including 575 in Weaverville. The One North Carolina grant will help the company shift its focus towards customer service by expanding its call center in Weaverville. The move will result in a net gain of over 400 jobs.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $26,143 not including benefits. The Buncombe County average annual wage is $32,968.
“Our company has been a part of the North Carolina community for 25 years and the addition of a state-of-the-art customer care facility to our existing manufacturing site in Weaverville will hopefully enable us to keep those ties firmly in place,” said Bob Fletcher, EVP North American Customer Service at Arvato Digital Services. “Historically, our company has successfully adapted its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our clients. The call center initiative is an excellent example of our ability to react to the business environment and ensure our resources are appropriately placed.”
“I have seen firsthand how supportive the State of North Carolina is to businesses that are committed to growth,” said Hans-Peter Hülskötter, CEO at Arvato Digital Services. “We are honored to launch this new project in Weaverville, one that would not have been feasible without the presence of a highly capable workforce in the area, the continued success of our current operations and employees, and the invaluable support of the State and County.”
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“I am pleased to see Arvato’s continued investment in Buncombe County,” said Sen. Martin Nesbitt, of Asheville. “Our high quality of life, skilled workforce, and investments in strong infrastructure and education keep us on the radar of a number of global companies.”
“Arvato’s expansion in North Buncombe is welcome news”, said Rep. Susan Fisher, of Asheville. “I am encouraged that companies are willing to expand in tough times, and especially happy to see jobs created right here in Buncombe County.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 45,000 jobs and $8 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges and Buncombe County.
For more information about Arvato, including job opportunities, go to www.arvatodigitalservices.com