NM B I Z B U Z Z : the Business of New Mexico

Gov Richardson,CiDirect Announce Bilingual CS Center for TaosGovernor Bill Richardson today announced that CiDirect of Harlan, IA has selected Taos as the site for its 150-employee bilingual customer support center.

Governor Richardson credited the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership and the state’s Economic Development Department for landing the deal after a four-month competition with 12 other communities in California, Texas and Arizona.
“This announcement is happening because the Partnership has been out knocking on doors, following up on leads, and promoting all the communities of our great state,” said Governor Richardson. “This announcement today – good jobs in rural New Mexico -- is exactly what we had in mind when we created this organization 10 months ago.”
CiDirect will serve Hispanic customers, concentrating on life, health, and property and casualty insurance markets.
“Taos and the State of New Mexico were aggressive in the pursuit of our business,” said Mary Bro, President and CEO of CiDirect. “The positive business climate, quality of the workforce, and the support of the state and local government made our decision an easy one.”
All CiDirect employees will undergo extensive training so that each employee will become a registered insurance agent. The value of the insurance agent training is $5,000.
CiDirect plans to take advantage of the Jobs Training Incentive Program (JTIP) offered by the Economic Development Department of New Mexico, as well as the High Wage Jobs Tax Credit and the Rural Jobs Tax Credit.
The company will invest $2.8 million in a new facility, including the building, plus equipment, furniture and fixtures. .....

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