Largest NuComm International Location To Open In Louisiana

Canadian contact center leader's second U.S. location in Lafayette will create up to 1000 jobs within a year to boost Louisiana's economy

NuComm International, Canada's leader in outsourced contact center solutions, has chosen Lafayette, Louisiana as the site of its 14th and largest ever customer contact center. The new site, scheduled to open for business in September 2006, is poised to create up to 1000 new contact center jobs for area residents-signaling positive news for Louisiana's economy.

"We're excited to announce Lafayette as our second US location-and the largest ever in the history of our company," says NuComm CEO and Founder Real Bergevin. "It's a massive undertaking ...but we are hoping to capitalize on Louisiana's strong, skilled workforce, the favorable US dollar rate and the welcoming spirit of this excellent southern location to make our biggest facility potentially our very best."

"Today's announcement further demonstrates that Louisiana is moving forward says Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. "Not only are we competing nationally and internationally, we are succeeding in drawing new business to our state and our people."

"I am confident that NuComm will bring an estimated 1,000 jobs to Lafayette," she continues. "For this reason, we have committed $1,000,000 from our state's Rapid Response fund to make it happen. We look forward to assisting NuComm in the development of their largest -- and what we know will be their best -- operation to date. I am proud that they have selected Lafayette for this new venture."

Employing more than 4,000 people in 13 contact centers around the world, NuComm International provides technical and service support, customer care and billing, data management and customer self-service programs to its global clients. Earlier this year, NuComm tested the Lafayette market with an exploratory job fair to gauge the skill level and interest of the workforce. The results were favorable prompting company leaders to begin a dialogue with the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) and the State of Louisiana to bring the center to Lafayette. The State, LEDA, and Lafayette Consolidated Government worked closely with the business and education communities to bring this team effort to fruition.

"Our team stands ready to make NuComm's entry into Louisiana a great success," says Walter O. Guillory, LEDA Chairman. "We are delighted to welcome this trailblazing corporation to Acadiana and are looking forward to the enormous contribution it will make to the vitality of our economy."

The majority of NuComm's Lafayette employee base will be telephone representatives responsible for handling inbound technical support and customer care calls. Following an aggressive recruitment drive this month, the first wave of training will commence early September for an anticipated launch later that month.

"We are elated to see higher paying job opportunities for one thousand of our citizens through employment with this outstanding company," says Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel. "This will, without a doubt, add to the quality of life of many of our residents and we are happy that they have chosen Lafayette to expand their operations."

According to an economic impact study completed by Economist Anthony Greco, PhD, with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, after the initial construction investment, the approximate annual impact of the NuComm project will be more than $115 million to the Lafayette economy.

"The employment impact of NuComm is important to our continuing efforts to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens," says Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of LEDA. "These quality jobs, which include healthcare and other benefits, will be a boon to the economy of Lafayette, Acadiana, and the State of Louisiana."

Building will commence immediately to reconfigure the former Service Merchandise in the Northgate Mall to meet NuComm's stringent technology and production seat requirements. In total, NuComm will be investing $3.5 million in leasehold improvements, furniture, infrastructure and fixtures to bring the facility up to the company's global state-of-the-art contact center standards.

"A call center of this size will have major significance in the revitalization of Lafayette's north side. NuComm will benefit from the region's skilled workforce, utilizing the state's Quality Jobs Program to bring more well-paying jobs with good benefits to Lafayette," says Michael J. Olivier, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary.

Following the formal announcement on Monday, NuComm plans to immediately begin the recruitment process. A NuComm job fair will be held Wednesday August 9 through Saturday August 12 at the Louisiana Technical College - Lafayette Campus on Bertrand Drive.

                NUCOMM INTERNATIONAL LAFAYETTE JOB FAIR

     from Wednesday August 9th to Friday August 11th
noon to 8 pm
                   & Saturday August 12
10am to 4 pm
    Louisiana Technical College - Lafayette Campus on Bertrand Drive.

About NuComm International

NuComm International is a leader in North America's contact centre industry. It has been named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies(TM) for five years in a row and was a 2005 recipient of the Canada Award for Excellence (CAE) from The National Quality Institute (NQI). Offering innovative "customer care" solutions to businesses and organizations of all sizes, NuComm is also among the few companies of its kind operating in an ISO 9001:2000 quality managed environment. Its many centers provide technical and service support, customer care and billing, data management and customer self-service programs to some of the best-known companies in the cable, telecommunications, automotive, financial services, retail, media and entertainment sectors.