Regarding JNL's job transfers... I think it's good news that the jobs are coming to Lansing, but definitely not good news that JNL as a company cannot sustain their Denver call center.
I think calling the Denver facility unsustainable is a stretch. Jackson is keeping 650 people in Denver who probably have higher paid jobs in sales, marketing and investment advising services.
Just something to keep in mind: The Denver metropolitan statistical area has a median household income of $58,039, according to 2007 Census data. The Lansing-East Lansing MSA has a median household income of $49,169. Nashville is $49,979.
So a company like Jackson can pay less for the same number of workers in Lansing or Nashville than Denver. In Lansing, they have a building that they own with lots of empty space that already houses customer service workers - a definite advantage over Nashville. That's a pretty easy business decision. I don't mean to denigrate these jobs in any way (I'm frankly jealous of their benefit package) - but they're not "high skill" jobs that require an advanced degree. So why pay a premium to have these customer service jobs in Denver when you can find lots of people in Lansing who will do the job just as well or better for less money?
The intangible in all of this is what kind of goodwill does Jackson create with state and city officials - who regulate their business and can offer some pretty substantial tax incentives in the future - by making a pretty easy business decision? How much is that worth?
Jwswrites, your census data is from 2007, so 150 people x $8870/year difference=$1,330,500 savings/year - why would JNL not want to save this money for the past couple of years?
Why would they want to lay off 150 people (or however many are not transferring) in Denver and hire new people in Lansing now? Loss of institutional knowledge aside, there's certainly a loss for call center operations to close a place that's two hours behind their other call center.
I probably shouldn't have said "as a company cannot sustain their call center" - I should have said "is now consolidating their call center operations".
The city has solid plans to start construction end of March on beautifying the river front by AF and the City Market spending $3.2 million. I kinda wonder how that's going to work...why start beautifying the area when AF construction is under way and the new city market construction is going to start...wouldn't you do the beautificaiton work after the major construction?
That makes sense...I just didn't know how much possibility there was that the major building construction could damage the beautification work such as trees etc. But it sounds like that is pretty minimal compared to the benefits of doing it that way.
Yeah, I noticed the sign too. And actually there are identical signs on all four sides of the building and from what I saw from Washington Sq. all four were lit. It's a very nice sign. Also, the Daily Bagle has it's facade comlete and there new sign is the entire width of the building and looks really good. They also have some white trim around the door and windows that matches the sign.
I noticed this morning that renovation of the facade for Kelly's and the former Byblos is underway. Steel/metal beams have been put over the existing brick facade and plywood has been put up over the metal. There are setbacks starting at the top that are farthest out (less than a foot) and holes for the existing windows. I'm kinda surprised they aren't using the existing brick like most of the other rennovations on Wash Sq.; but at least it's FINALLY getting done!
Yeah, the Delta Dental expansion has three floors of steel up now. The steel frame looks like it might be complete. Also, the MMA building just down the road also looks to have all the steel up for it's two floor building.
Sale of the North Grand parking ramp has failed to gain traction again. Officials from LCC were present at the council of the whole meeting and offered the same $2.7 million deal that was proposed last year, one in which council president Brian Jeffries has already said that he would vote no towards. The council is looking to increase the price of the sale from $2.7 million to $2.8 and lower the city rents for the office located within the building.
With all this back and forth going on, I'm not sure when this will finally get moving. I would like to see LCC take over the ramp, specifically so they don't have to build their own.
Comments
Another part of the article that sounded good was that their former headquarters building is now full except for 1 floor.
Just something to keep in mind: The Denver metropolitan statistical area has a median household income of $58,039, according to 2007 Census data. The Lansing-East Lansing MSA has a median household income of $49,169. Nashville is $49,979.
So a company like Jackson can pay less for the same number of workers in Lansing or Nashville than Denver. In Lansing, they have a building that they own with lots of empty space that already houses customer service workers - a definite advantage over Nashville. That's a pretty easy business decision. I don't mean to denigrate these jobs in any way (I'm frankly jealous of their benefit package) - but they're not "high skill" jobs that require an advanced degree. So why pay a premium to have these customer service jobs in Denver when you can find lots of people in Lansing who will do the job just as well or better for less money?
The intangible in all of this is what kind of goodwill does Jackson create with state and city officials - who regulate their business and can offer some pretty substantial tax incentives in the future - by making a pretty easy business decision? How much is that worth?
Why would they want to lay off 150 people (or however many are not transferring) in Denver and hire new people in Lansing now? Loss of institutional knowledge aside, there's certainly a loss for call center operations to close a place that's two hours behind their other call center.
I probably shouldn't have said "as a company cannot sustain their call center" - I should have said "is now consolidating their call center operations".
http://capitalgainsmedia.com/devnews/water0309.aspx
Yeah, I noticed the sign too. And actually there are identical signs on all four sides of the building and from what I saw from Washington Sq. all four were lit. It's a very nice sign. Also, the Daily Bagle has it's facade comlete and there new sign is the entire width of the building and looks really good. They also have some white trim around the door and windows that matches the sign.
BTW, thanks for the picture!
With all this back and forth going on, I'm not sure when this will finally get moving. I would like to see LCC take over the ramp, specifically so they don't have to build their own.