BCBS of Georgia Adding 400 New Jobs in Columbus, 300 in Atlanta (lease, condos)

[amyers3]

Originally Posted by OldRiverRd

it's all about $$$$ - land is cheep, it's cheeper to build a large office out in the tech park than it is to buy a block and build a skyscraper.

Plus isn't the city leasing land for just a few cents to get people to move over that way? I think that's what they did with Litho-Krome and others in the tech park.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by amyers3

Plus isn't the city leasing land for just a few cents to get people to move over that way? I think that's what they did with Litho-Krome and others in the tech park.

I think this can really jump start the new technology park. The list of tenants already is impressive. Glad to see Midland and the Columbus metro continue to grow.

[Columbus1984]

Also wonder how this will impact commercial real estate in Midland. They will have nearly 2000 employees all in 1 location which is great.

[luv2belds97]

So they'll be hiring again then?

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by luv2belds97

So they'll be hiring again then?

They are hiring now. BCBS is building a campus out in the technology park in Midland. It should house close to 2,000 employees by summer 2015.

[Citizen Reporter]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

They are hiring now. BCBS is building a campus out in the technology park in Midland. It should house close to 2,000 employees by summer 2015.

While I applaud any job growth in the city these positions are mainly low wage customer service jobs many which will fade away once the Obamacare surge is completed.
I have heard this from numerous employees at the Warm Springs offices.
Several long term workers there said they actually shut down an entire floor and let workers go not that long ago and having a record of this will obviously duplicate the process again.
NCR has nearly peaked in production of their ATM and checkout service islands and the clock is ticking to the date local/state tax breaks expire which we all know what happens then as has been the case with previous aircraft/battery etc companies.
It sure would be nice to get something stable and permanent for locals to hang their hats on rather than having to go between feast and famine resulting in a zero balance.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by Citizen Reporter

While I applaud any job growth in the city these positions are mainly low wage customer service jobs many which will fade away once the Obamacare surge is completed.
I have heard this from numerous employees at the Warm Springs offices.
Several long term workers there said they actually shut down an entire floor and let workers go not that long ago and having a record of this will obviously duplicate the process again.
NCR has nearly peaked in production of their ATM and checkout service islands and the clock is ticking to the date local/state tax breaks expire which we all know what happens then as has been the case with previous aircraft/battery etc companies.
It sure would be nice to get something stable and permanent for locals to hang their hats on rather than having to go between feast and famine resulting in a zero balance.

These jobs are there for Obamacare. Unless Obamacare goes away I highly doubt these positions are going anywhere. BCBS wouldn't be building a new campus if they thought these jobs were temporary. As for NCR, they just recently opened another building. So why would they be laying off LOL?

[Citizen Reporter]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

These jobs are there for Obamacare. Unless Obamacare goes away I highly doubt these positions are going anywhere. BCBS wouldn't be building a new campus if they thought these jobs were temporary. As for NCR, they just recently opened another building. So why would they be laying off LOL?

The word around town is that BCBS will vacate Warm Springs Rd location after the surge and stay in Midland with remainder of staff etc so that would make perfect sense especially after Obamacare surge ends.
They are not really building a new campus but rather moving into an existing unit.
I actually have a couple of relatives have worked at NCR since the beginning and they have seen the revolving door of temps and reduced hours which does not reflect growth by any means.
Bottom line is that the city is giving anything and everything to get someone into that tech park which for the most part had been setting unused and unoccupied for quite sometime which will only make new prospects want even more.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by Citizen Reporter

The word around town is that BCBS will vacate Warm Springs Rd location after the surge and stay in Midland with remainder of staff etc so that would make perfect sense especially after Obamacare surge ends.
They are not really building a new campus but rather moving into an existing unit.
I actually have a couple of relatives have worked at NCR since the beginning and they have seen the revolving door of temps and reduced hours which does not reflect growth by any means.
Bottom line is that the city is giving anything and everything to get someone into that tech park which for the most part had been setting unused and unoccupied for quite sometime which will only make new prospects want even more.

BCBS is building a new office building. It was just announced a few weeks ago.

[Citizen Reporter]

I was speaking of the currently leased BCBS bldg they are currently using at the Tech Park although the new bldg will be largely offset by local/state reduced tax etc giveaways(ie.. The Valley Partnership) that local republicans absolutely hate along with Obamacare.
A double edged sword but sadly the only way the city can get business movement is to give away the farm.
It has been going on locally since the Reagan days.