Enhanced Recovery Corporation to create 300 jobs in Waycross

WAYCROSS, Ga., July 13, 2007 – Waycross and Southeast Georgia were the focus of economic development in the state today as the state's chief marketer announced the creation of new jobs and toured sites touched by recent wildfires in the region. Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart, with company and community officials, announced today that Enhanced Recovery Corporation (ERC) will create 300 new jobs in the next two years. The company, a national debt collections service provider, will invest $5.5 million renovating an existing facility for its use. 'ERC's decision to expand into Georgia is a direct result of our pro-growth business climate,' said Commissioner Stewart at the announcement ceremony, which took place at the Okefenokee Technical College in Waycross. 'Like ERC, we in Georgia pride ourselves in providing innovative and top-quality services to our customers and business partners.' The call center, which will be operational during the first quarter of 2008, will provide collection services for customers in the credit card, telecom, retail and other markets. The company plans to hire 150 workers during its first year of operation, and another 150 during the second year. ERC will purchase and occupy 35,000 square feet of the former Winn Dixie building in Waycross to support its expansion. The company chose to locate its third call center in Georgia after also considering a potential site in Florida. 'Expanding our business into Waycross, Georgia assists our company greatly in meeting our growth objectives,' said Mark Thompson, CEO of ERC. 'We are very grateful for all of the efforts and assistance provided to us by the Okefenokee Area Development Authority as well as the Georgia Department of Economic Development. We've been made to feel very much at home in Waycross and are anxious to get started.' 'We are excited to welcome ERC to our community,' said Regina Morgan, executive director of the Okefenokee Area Development Authority. 'The company's presence will benefit the community with good, high-quality jobs and significant economic impact. We look forward to making them at home and helping them grow.' GDEcD partnered on the project with the authority as well as the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE), Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) and Georgia Power Community and Economic Development to assist the company with its location. Carol Henderson was the project manager for GDEcD. Enhanced Recovery Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a privately-held company founded in 1999. It is nationally licensed and bonded in all 50 states. The company currently has approximately 500 employees in two call centers located in Jacksonville and in the Caribbean. Following the announcement, Commissioner Stewart and representatives of GDEcD's Tourism Division toured Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross and the national Wildlife Refuge/Okefenokee Adventures in Folkston. The group received updates on the region's recovery from recent damage by wildfires from local business and tourism officials. Commissioner Stewart also updated the local representatives about the GDEcD's work to encourage tourism and reinvigorate economic development in the area, including a joint national marketing effort with the Georgia Forestry Commission to publicize Southeast Georgia's vigorous economic and tourism assets. "The Okefenokee will always be one of the natural wonders of the world, and I'm pleased to see visitors once again enjoying its many attractions. We commend everyone involved in restoring access to the parks and supporting their recovery,' said Commissioner Stewart. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.