Sykes call center in Wise Virginia to become welfare offices.

Governor Warner announces another 100 new jobs, really just old jobs

by Lewis Loflin

Update 2015: SI International changes it's name or someone took it over then claimed 100 new jobs again, but these are the same jobs going back over a decade.

After spending $10 million in incentives trying to lure $8 an hour jobs to Clintwood, Virginia, former Gov. now Senator Warner gets a government contractor. The previous two call centers moved overseas, so what does Mr. Warner do in 2010? He votes to reward and subsidize companies moving their jobs overseas. To quote the Washington Times October 8, 2010

On Sept. 28, Senate Republicans, joined by four Democrats, blocked tax legislation that would have punished U.S. firms that export jobs. Even if the proponents of the failed bill are correct in asserting that the current environment encourages U.S. companies to send jobs abroad, the result would be small potatoes compared to the havoc the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to wreak on the U.S. economy beginning in January unless Congress takes action to stop it...

The bill would prohibit firms from taking deductions for business expenses associated with expanding operations in other countries. It would increase taxes on U.S. companies that close domestic operations and expand foreign ones to import products to the U.S.

Republicans argued...the tax increases would hurt international corporations that employ U.S. workers.

The Republican claim makes no sense at all. And who were the Democrats that voted for corporate outsourcing subsidies? "The Democrats voting to block the bill were Sens. Max Baucus of Montana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia. Also voting no was Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn." Yup, our own millionaire and former governor Mark Warner.

Richmond (2005) - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that SI International, an information technology and network solutions company, will invest $1 million to open a customer service center in Dickenson County. The center, which will move into the former Travelocity building in Clintwood, will create 100 new jobs. SI International is working under a contract with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to provide call center and support services to the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan for federal civilian and military employees.

"It is gratifying to know that SI International will take advantage of the state-of-the-art Travelocity building and the region's ready-made workforce," said Governor Warner. "The unified effort of the local, regional and state agencies involved with this project secured this deal for Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth."

SI International is a provider of information technology and network solutions primarily to the federal government. The company defines, designs, builds, deploys and operates mission-critical solutions for the Department of Defense and Federal Civilian agencies. SI International delivers solutions quickly with a focus on mission-critical outsourcing, federal IT modernization, homeland defense and defense transformation. Founded in 1998, SI International is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and employs more than 3,800 people.

"It is rewarding to see state, regional and local government entities work so well together to bring a project of this size to successful fruition," said William A. Smithson, Vice President of SI International. "Everyone has been fantastic to work with."

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission funded a research project that ultimately led the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to contact SI International as a potential occupant for the former Travelocity building. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Tobacco Commission, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Dickenson County to assist SI International with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Program.

"We are pleased to have SI International come to Clintwood and Dickenson County," said Paul Buchanan, Chairman of the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors. "We think the jobs they are bringing are going to be jobs that will be here for a long time. We're thankful the company has chosen Dickenson County for their location."

"The arrival of SI International and these customer contact jobs is wonderful news for not only Dickenson County, but the region as well," said Donald Baker, Mayor of Clintwood and Chairman of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. "This company is able to take advantage of our trained and dedicated workforce in this region, and we are hopeful this is only the beginning of a long and productive relationship with Clintwood and Dickenson County."

In the end taxpayers shelled out $10 million in various forms of corporate welfare to move call centers one after the other into Clintwood, Virginia. The number of jobs never exceeded 250 at any time while they will claim to this day they "created" over 1100 new jobs. In the end they moved in a government contractor called S.I. International (they have changed hands since) and claim 130 jobs today. The typical call center job in this region pays $8-$9 dollars an hour. The Pikeville call center never reopened and was shut down for similar reasons.

• A Town's Future Is Leaving the Country LA Times
• Travelocity.com Debacle in Clintwood Virginia
• Governor Warner announces another 100 new jobs, really just old jobs
• A small frown in America Clintwood Virginia
• Sykes Pikeville call center to close
• Tobacco Commission Sykes Fiasco Reveals Government Waste
• Wise Virginia Call Center Another Sykes Fiasco

Yes we have broadband and spent millions.

• More on Phil Puckett and the Virginia Tobacco Commission Scandal
• Virginia Tobacco Commission Scandals 2014

• Tobacco Commission Sykes Fiasco
• Scott County Virginia Economic Backwater
• Cost of Wise Inn Fiasco Soares to $12 Million
• Exposing the Virginia Tobacco Commission
• Lewis Loflin Confronts the VA Tobacco Commission

• Democracy and the Origins of the US Constitution
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• My Answer to a Secular Fundamentalist by Lewis Loflin
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