Call center will bring 168 jobs to Sherman

SHERMAN — A new call center, Capio Partners LLC, will bring 168 new jobs and occupy the space CIGNA vacated in the strip center on Texoma Parkway. Sherman Economic Development Corp.’ Board of Directors decided Monday to offer Capio $336,000, paid in five unequal installments, in order to attract the company here.

The partners in the new firm have experience with the former Attention LLC, also a call center, that sold to West Asset Management.

Hourly workers’ pay at the new business will average $14. The company will offer a benefits package that includes health care, dental and prescription drug plans, disability and life insurance, a 401k retirement plan and a cafeteria plan, which allows workers to pay for certain items in before- income tax dollars.

The call center will handle collections operations for medical businesses. The first year, the business plans to hire 30 new workers at a minimum wage of $14 per hour, and will get $60,000 from SEDCO if Capio is successful. By June 15, 2009, if Capio has created 31 new full time positions with a minimum hourly salary of $14, they will get $62,000 and Capio will get $82,000 from SEDCO if it creates 41 additional full time positions at $14 or more an hour by Dec. 15, 2009. If it adds 36 jobs by Dec. 15, 2010 and 30 more by Dec. 15, 2011 (all paying a minimum of $14 an hour,) the new company will receive payments of $72,000 and $60,000 respectively.

Capio must operate full time, continue the described benefits, maintain the employment levels and remain current in all its taxes, or it must pay back incentives on any part in which it is delinquent.

SEDCO board members tabled discussion of modifying an existing incentive plan with Crescent Processing, another call center. The board had scheduled a discussion on a compromise and settlement with Crescent on its incentive package.

The Economic Barometer for March showed a slight overall slowdown in building permits, but sales tax proceeds were up slightly, both comparing March receipts with those of the same month last year and with this year to date over those of the same period last year. The unemployment rate in Sherman dropped a tenth of a percent in March.