Drew Wilson
Gov. Rick Scott’s office said Thursday that Internet and telephone service provider Frontier Communications will expand its operations in DeLand, adding 400 jobs and making about $2.5 million in capital investments.
“I am excited to announce that 400 jobs will be created in Deland thanks to Frontier Communications’ newest expansion,” Scott said in a news release. ”This great news means hundreds of new opportunities will be available to families in Volusia County.”
Deland Mayor Bob Apgar and Department of Economic Opportunity chief Jesse Panuccio also chimed in, praising Frontier for bringing “quality” and “high-tech” jobs to the area, though the types of jobs the company will add was not specified. The company currently lists call center and sales openings for its DeLand operations.
Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development arm, played a role in the expansion, though exact details of what incentives Frontier will get for making the hires is unknown.
Frontier has been on the receiving end of incentives packages before. In January 2014, the state and Volusia County signed off on an incentives package for Frontier that would give out $420,000 in tax refunds through the state’s Qualified Target Industry program for creating 139 jobs and making $2.3 million in capital investments.
The QTI program gives tax refunds to companies that create jobs with higher than average wages for the area. The 2014 deal promised an average annual salary $37,377 for the new hires – about 15 more than the county’s average wage.
