| In the past couple of years, an increasing number of | | | | Although it may take more than one success story |
| State Agencies and financial firms have been | | | | to bring additional call centers throughout the U.S, we |
| re-addressing cost cutting solutions by sending | | | | need other States to see how this success story |
| customer service jobs to rural areas of the United | | | | provided local jobs in a high unemployment county |
| States, where labor costs can be dramatically lower | | | | and to help them work to build a similar footprint in |
| and where skilled labor forces are available. | | | | their State. |
| We believe that there is an attempt to bring | | | | "Our call center footprint works, it has been highly |
| outsourcing jobs back from overseas to smaller cities | | | | successful and very cost effective. Outsourcing is a |
| and towns through the United States. We recently | | | | direct response to the need for "cost savings and |
| visited the Michigan town of Oscoda -- home to | | | | the right skills". We have a success story using good |
| about 20,000 people, near the northeast lower | | | | old fashioned American ingenuity that is a direct result |
| peninsula of Michigan along the shores of Lake Huron | | | | of our services meeting or exceeding the needs of |
| -- where some say there aren't enough jobs in local | | | | our clients." Art Cruse says. |
| retail, government, building, farming and manufacturing | | | | We found that Crusecom was significantly wired for |
| industries to keep local residents employed. | | | | communication and information. This means that they |
| "In today global marketplace, these industries operate | | | | are connected to the global marketplace. For this rural |
| with lower and lower margins each year," says Art | | | | community, Crusecom is a prime example of a leader |
| Cruse, CEO of Crusecom Technology Consultant LLC. | | | | that recognizes the global economy and how they |
| "I believe the Economic Development challenge for | | | | can fit into it. Crusecom considers itself a local |
| rural Northeast Michigan is (getting) from a | | | | business within the global business community and |
| commodity economy to a technology based | | | | invests in the infrastructure necessary to optimize |
| business-driven economy." | | | | the existing opportunities and continue to update |
| Crusecom is one company taking up the challenge, | | | | their business direction to gain additional potential |
| hiring local residence, providing appropriate training, | | | | advantages. |
| who otherwise would leave rural Michigan to find | | | | Can others create the competitive jobs in rural |
| work in bigger cities. Crusecom went from 8 to 67 | | | | communities that are needed in order to compete in |
| employees within 10 months and expect to grow to | | | | the global marketplace? Many real success stories of |
| over 100 employees by the end of 2007. By using | | | | small urban-based companies leveraging the |
| the Internet, and the latest asterisk-based VoIP | | | | relationship with global marketplace to build new |
| System from Fonality, the firm supports over 75,000 | | | | industry in rural America are not featured on prime |
| calls per month. | | | | time news. "Not to be harsh, but it seems as though |
| Cindy Walker, Director of Operations who manages | | | | our economic development leaders place their faith in |
| the call center and Web design services for | | | | industries of the past. What we need to do is to |
| Crusecom, "I am elated that I found a job in Oscoda | | | | continue to build a telecommunication "fiber" |
| that matches my experience and desired occupation. | | | | infrastructure in our communities. I am concerned |
| A large factor in our success thus far has been the | | | | when local and regional leaders really do not seem |
| same excitement and positive attitude our | | | | interested or concerned about this infrastructure and |
| employees bring to Crusecom." she says. | | | | how it could save, promote and expand their/our |
| There were a number of potential roadblocks to their | | | | communities. Don't get me wrong, these people are |
| success, but Crusecom goal was to build a new | | | | sound community leaders, but they have a new |
| industry in rural Michigan. This new industry would | | | | industry to learn in the global marketplace. " Art |
| fundamentally bring more jobs to Iosco and | | | | Cruse says. |
| surrounding counties. "We are bursting at the seams | | | | The new wealth of America's heartland once again |
| in our current facility", says Leesa Cruse - CFO. | | | | relies upon innovators in order to compete for |
| Crusecom expects to expand to a new 14,000 | | | | outsourced projects. Success stories need to be |
| square foot facility this fall. This facility includes a | | | | shared so that the American businesses with the |
| 5000 square foot secure data center that will be | | | | desire to create new jobs closer to home in beautiful |
| used to support the growing demand for Internet | | | | rural America communities may, like Crusecom, seek |
| and Data solutions and support up to 300 new | | | | out and seize such opportunities. |
| employees. | | | | |