Gov. Blagojevich’s Support Helps Chicago-based Company Create 450 New Jobs
BOLINGBROOK – U.S. Cellular today inaugurated operations at a new 100,000-square foot customer call center located at 245 West Crossroads Parkway in southwest suburban Bolingbrook. The new call center employs approximately 250 people and will hire about 200 additional employees before the end of the year. Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced approximately $4 million in support for the call center last November through his Opportunity Returns program – his historic, regional strategy to spur economic growth and create jobs throughout Northeast Illinois.

“The opening of U.S. Cellular’s new call center today represents a tremendous addition to the regional economy. Our state’s world-class workforce, competitive business climate and outstanding quality of life continue to be the recipe for success in the eyes of many top-flight firms from across the world who are looking to grow or expand. We’ll never stop making investments in companies such as U.S. Cellular that have the desire, the dedication, and the wherewithal to act as an economic engine of growth and that continue to move this economy forward full speed ahead,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

“Our company has experienced tremendous growth in customers since we entered the greater Chicago market a little more than two years ago, and that is one of the reasons we found it necessary to open this new call center,” said U.S. Cellular President and CEO John E. Rooney. “Our focus on total customer satisfaction has been rewarded with a huge amount of new business. The investment we’re making and the new jobs we’re creating here are clear symptoms of our success.”

The new facility initially will handle calls primarily from customers in Northeastern Illinois and Northern Indiana. It houses call center operations and training and conference facilities, and employs representatives in customer service, customer relations, help desk and tech support.

“We looked at a lot of different locations in the area, but Bolingbrook simply had the best combination of facilities, location and economics,” Rooney said. “This facility lies in the center of one of the deepest and most talented labor pools in the country.”

With the addition of Bolingbrook, U.S. Cellular now operates six call centers, including centers in Medford, Ore., Tulsa, Okla., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Waukesha, Wis., and Knoxville, Tenn. The company’s new Bolingbrook facility was renovated from an existing space that was vacated by another telecommunications company in 2004.

“Gov. Blagojevich has invested heavily in enhancing our competitive strengths and leveraging them to act as a more dynamic force of economic growth. When successful companies like U.S. Cellular decide to expand here, it’s a great indication that we’re really building a fertile environment where top companies believe they can thrive,” State Senator Arthur “AJ” Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) said.

“Under Gov. Blagojevich’s leadership, a number of highly successful companies have announced their decision to locate or expand their operations in the Northeast region in recent months. We are thrilled that U.S. Cellular is creating 450 new jobs in this region, which is accelerating our economic growth and providing more widespread opportunity for the people of our community,” State Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville) said.

“This is a welcome recovery for employment in Bolingbrook,” said Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar. “U.S. Cellular’s decision to locate its new call center in our city is a testament to the quality and attractiveness of our business environment, and we couldn’t have asked for a better corporate citizen.”

U.S. Cellular’s investment in the new Bolingbrook facility was assisted by approximately $4 million through Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns program that is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, including Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits based on job creation over a ten-year period, a Large Business Development Program grant, and funding through its Employer Training Investment Fund to help train U.S. Cellular’s workforce.

“From his first days in office, Gov. Blagojevich acted with a great sense of urgency to create a support system that would not only help retain businesses throughout the state, but provide the targeted resources and hands on assistance that will help businesses expand and launch new ventures here. U.S. Cellular’s decision to locate its new call center in Bolingbrook will help a prosperous local economy thrive,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

U.S. Cellular has provided service in Illinois since 1987 and in Chicagoland since 2002. Since 2004, the company donated more than $560,000 to important non-profit organizations throughout the state.

Chicago-based U.S. Cellular Corporation (AMEX: USM) is a super-regional wireless company, serving more than five million customers in 148 markets in 25 states. With 2004 service revenues of $2.64 billion, U.S. Cellular maintains one of the industry’s highest levels of customer satisfaction by emphasizing customer support, quality network coverage and comprehensive range of wireless products and services. The company is an active corporate citizen through charitable contributions, award-winning community relations programs and associate volunteer activities. For more information, visit www.uscellular.com.

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.