A Florida company recently announced plans to close a call center in southeast Iowa. The move by Precision Response Corporation will leave 200 out of work in Keokuk on December 14. Now, Cedar Rapids based Thomas Cardella and Associates says it will open a call center in the former PRC facility next March.
Keokuk Mayor Dave Gudgel says it’s a big break for the local economy. Gudgel says Cardella plans to employ 225 people in Keokuk. Hiring will start in February and Cardella plans to open the center in March. Gudgel says the news offers a bit of relief for area residents that are losing their jobs just before Christmas.
"It’s my understanding that a significant portion of them, if not all, will have the opportunity to remain gamefully employed with this new company," Gudgel says of the PRC workers that are being layed off next Friday. In October, Keokuk received another piece of positive economic news when Hendricks Industries announced plans to open a wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in town – creating 350 jobs.