It's been hard to spot the anticipated economic turnaround in Reno…high unemployment and a glut of foreclosed homes remain. But some good news was formally announced today (Thursday)…good enough to bring together the mayor, the head of EDAWN, and the CEO of a company called "One Contact, Inc."
Company president Michael Hilmer told us at the press conference, "We're announcing the launch of a new site, a long-term commitment to support programs we're going to launch here, and ultimately a lot of jobs."
"One Contact" operates call centers. The old Social Security building in east Reno at 1175 Financial Boulevard is going to be their next one. They just started taking applications for 150 jobs for telemarketers and customer service over the next 6 months…you need good keyboarding skills, and also be able to communicate well. Hilmer told us, "They move to customer service and then move up to other roles." What's the average wage? "They'll be anywhere from $12 an hour to senior management with $60,000 a year."
Most are below Reno's average wage of $19.59 an hour, but EDAWN says these days there are more pressing concerns. As EDAWN's Mike Kazmierski explained, "If you're unemployed and your unemployment benefits just ran out, you now have an opportunity to get a job and get your health care for your kids, for yourself. It's a pretty big difference."
And there are some recent signs of life: last November, Washoe County posted its first month-over-month increase in employment since 2007. Mayor Bob Cashell hinted to us...many more jobs are coming. "We've had 2 or 3 other companies that I can't go into that are looking at this area and want to move to Reno. They're very close. They're very close."
Apple is a go…the NOW Vitamins center is open. There is a sense that things are turning around, that the slow-moving tide is overcoming a lingering recession. But even as new life awaits at One Contact's new call center at 1175 Financial Boulevard, the building next door remains closed up, and waiting its turn in one slow recovery.
-written by John Potter
Applications are being taken right now for One Contact's new jobs. We have a link to their career page, where you can read the Reno job descriptions and apply for them, right here:
http://www.onecontactinc.com/careers-jobs
