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Showing posts with label Priceline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priceline. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Georgia, Michigan tussle over 'Priceline' callcenter


(Courtesy)


Columbus, Georgia and Wyoming, Michigan are in competition for a new call-center for Priceline, an Internet-based travel site.

A Columbus Chamber of Commerce official confirmed the report, but was unable to provide further details, saying that the negotiations were still in progress.

Columbus is reportedly offering an $11 million incentive package to the Norwalk, Conn.-based company, according to the Grand Rapids Press. The Chamber of Commerce says the amount offered in the package was lower, but could not confirm the sum.

Officials say such a center, which would handle online flight, hotel and car-rental bookings would create upwards of 400 jobs, although the Chamber of Commerce would not confirm that number.

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority on Tuesday approved a state tax credit worth up to $3.9 million over seven years to encourage the Norwalk, Conn., company to open a call center in Wyoming.

The Grand Rapids suburb is proposing an additional seven-year property tax abatement worth $1.1 million. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has offered up to $200,000 in job training assistance. according to the Michigan newspaper.

The Chamber of Commerce and Priceline spokesman Brian Ek say a final decision is expected early this summer.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of economic development issues in Georgia.

(With The Associated Press)

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