Governor, Mayor Commemorate Grand Opening of Coca-Cola Enterprises’ New information Technology Development Center in Louisville
FRANKFORT, KY – March 02, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Gov. Steve Beshear, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, along with state and local economic development representatives today joined officials from Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE) to commemorate the opening of the company’s new Information Technology (IT) Development Center in Louisville.
The 5,600 square-foot Business Information Services (BIS) Development Center, located on Corporate Campus Drive, will be an extension of IT services provided from the system’s Atlanta group, where Coca-Cola Enterprises is headquartered. The BIS Development Center of Louisville will extend the BIS mission and build in-house knowledge by reducing reliance on external contractors, and will focus on new development and top-end projects.
“We are honored that an internationally respected company like Coca-Cola Enterprises has chosen to make its home in Louisville,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today’s grand opening represents dozens of new, high-quality job opportunities for individuals in the Louisville community. I am pleased to welcome Coca-Cola Enterprises to the commonwealth.”
By the end of March, Coca-Cola Enterprises will have 15 full-time employees, and will continue to expand the Louisville Development Center throughout the year with additional full-time employees and interns. The company is recruiting from the local collegiate base for the new IT and Business Information Services Development Center.
“One of the reasons that Coca-Cola Enterprises selected Louisville for its Development Center was that the local universities produce some incredible talent – fresh young talent – that we need at CCE,” said Anthony Nuzzo, vice president of development and deployment for Coca-Cola Enterprises.
“Louisville has a reputation as a very liveable place to be,” said Michelle Bellamy, senior director of global development for Coca-Cola Enterprises. “As part of our commitment to community and to work-life balance it is important to us at CCE that our employees enjoy a good quality of life outside of the workplace, as well as inside it. Louisville is a perfect fit in this respect.”
In addition to full-time opportunities, the development center will have an active internship program for students during the summer months. Students’ academic skill-sets will be matched with key functions within the development center, allowing for growth and better transition after graduation.
“This announcement is especially important because these are not just any jobs…they are high-tech jobs that will help us keep our best and brightest college students in Louisville,” Mayor Jerry Abramson said. “Whether it’s high-tech or bio-tech, Louisville is a city that embraces innovation and we’re glad to welcome Coca-Cola to our city.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Coca-Cola Enterprises in September 2008 for tax benefits up to $730,000 under the Kentucky Jobs Development Act, an incentive program designed to increase technology and service-related employment in the commonwealth.
“These are quality, new economy, knowledge-based jobs,” said Joe Reagan, CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce. “It’s great to see a company like Coca-Cola choose Louisville as its choice for growth and expansion.”
Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world’s largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottled and canned liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. Coca-Cola Enterprises sells approximately 80 percent of the Coca-Cola Company’s North American volume, and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Monaco. For more information or to view Coca-Cola Enterprises’ Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report, please visit www.cokecce.com.
A community profile for Louisville can be found at http://thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=091.
Contact:
Jay Blanton
Jill Midkiff
502-564-2611
