The Right Place, Inc., along with local municipal partners and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), announced a West Michigan economic development project that is projected to add 287 new jobs in Cascade Township.
With the approval of a $550,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant and another $1.5 million dollar investment,
Dialog Direct will expand their operations to 2905 Lucerne SE, Grand Rapids, MI.
The firm manages customer contact centers for a variety of markets, including healthcare, insurance, financial, utilities and retail. The company's contact centers are near capacity and additional space is required to meet new client needs. The company's Holland site currently employs nearly 500 employees and was established in 2010.
According to Jack Wilkie, chief marketing officer for Dialog Direct, the location was chosen over 23 other sites, with the decision to locate their new operation in Cascade being made much easier by the firm's previous experience in West Michigan and the collaboration between multiple stakeholders in the region.
"We already have an operation in West Michigan that opened in June 2010 and have really enjoyed the community and the workforce," says Wilkie. "There is a strong labor market, community support and our desire to create jobs in the region."
Wilkie says the jobs will include a site director, team leaders, and training specialists, with the majority of new positions being customer service advisors. The firm is already hiring, with the first training class, an eight-week, fully paid program, scheduled for June 2. Individuals interested in exploring employment opportunities should call 616-834-9700 or visit
dialog-direct com.
The Dialog Direct expansion is one of three West Michigan projects that will be adding up to 446 new jobs and $52.1 million to the region, according to The Right Place.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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