"I was told I wouldn't have any trouble filling these jobs," said Walter Lapinski, Jr., president of call centers for Civic Development Group.

And so Lapinski went about his business, which included staffing 200 people at a new call center in Augusta, Ga.

"We could probably go to 400 easily," he said.

Strong recruitment efforts and a high unemployment rate drew the New Jersey-based firm to the area, where it began operations in October. The project represents a $1.4 million investment by Civic Development Group, which handles telemarketing services for Fortune 500 companies such as Qwest Communications, and organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police.

Back office facilities thrive in Georgia

CDG is among a host of back-office companies taking advantage of an ample labor market (4.6 percent unemployment rate) in Augusta. Over the past few years, a host of back office operations have opened in the Augusta-Aiken area, where more than 2,400 people are employed at telemarketing firms, customer service centers and transaction processing offices.

SITEL Technology Services' customer service center opened last fall in south Augusta, and the company now employs 700 people. Dial America's north Augusta facility is thriving as well.

"I have no problem filling positions," said Nelson Curry, manager of the Dial America telemarketing operation in Augusta. "I've got people on standby. My ultimate goal is to put another call center in the Augusta area."

Other telecommunications firms are finding homes elsewhere in Georgia, as well. Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless carrier, announced in late summer 2001 that it leased 376,000 square feet at a two-building complex in Alpharetta, in Fulton County. Eventually, there will be 1,500 employees at the facility.

The location had originally been constructed for Nortel Networks, but the telecommunications firm changed its mind about moving into the new facility. Nortel still has operations in a 246,000 square foot office complex adjacent to the new Cingular offices.