HP to Locate Service, Support Center in Conway, Create 1,200 IT Jobs

On Thursday, June 19th, HP, one of the world’s largest IT companies, announced plans to locate a state-of-the-art customer service and technical support center in Conway. The center will employ as many as 1,200 people in highly skilled technical positions.

A simultaneous announcement was held in Rio Rancho, New Mexico for a second center.

“HP is delighted to be creating these new centers in cooperation with the communities in Conway and Rio Rancho,” said Jon Flaxman, HP executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “With these new facilities we expect to improve processes and achieve efficiencies that will help us continue to improve the total experience for our growing number of customers.”

The center will provide sales, service and technical support for the company’s broad range of customers.
The Conway Development Corporation will construct a $28 million, 150,000 square foot building and lease it back to HP. The facility will be located in The Meadows, the Corporation’s 181 acre office and technology park in southern Conway.

“HP conducted a nationwide search and chose Conway as one of the locations based on multiple factors, including the quality of the workforce, business environment, standard of living and government cooperation,” said Gary Fazzino, HP vice president, government affairs.

Governor Mike Beebe said HP fits perfectly into the state’s target industries.

“This historic announcement for Conway and Central Arkansas demonstrates the new direction of Arkansas’s 21st-century economy,” Beebe said. “This is both a significant investment in our state providing high-quality, well-paying jobs and marking the beginning of a partnership between Arkansas and one of the global leaders in Information Technology.”

“Conway has been shaping itself, transforming, directly preparing for this day for years,” said Conway Mayor Tab Townsell. “To have those efforts recognized and appreciated by a company like Hewlett-Packard is incredible. Today’s announcement is that work realized.”

The HP project originated with and was coordinated by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Metro Little Rock Alliance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Brad Lacy
Conway Development Corporation
(501) 329-7788 brad@conwayarkansas.org

Joe Holmes
AEDC Marketing and Communications Director
(501) 682-5154, jholmes@arkansasedc.com