Cities Chase Citicorp Call Centers

City and county officials in Greensboro, N.C., are putting together an incentive package to lure 1,000 Citicorp Credit Services call center jobs. The project is similar to one Louisville is pursuing with the financial services company, though it's not clear if the two cities are competing for the same jobs.

Citicorp's parent, Citigroup, is consolidating a number of its call centers around the country, including several it recently acquired from Sears, Roebuck and Co., into about a dozen centers. But Citigroup has not said whether Louisville and Greensboro are competing for the same facility or if both could get call centers.

Both cities already employ a substantial number of Citicorp call-center workers. There are about 500 in Louisville and 700 in the Greensboro area, both at former Sears facilities. Louisville economic-development officials have been told to expect an additional 1,600 jobs, paying an average of $32,000 a year, if the city is selected. Greensboro stands to gain around 1,000.

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