On-Line Support (OLS) today announced the completion of its new customer care support centre at the West Royalty Industrial Park. The centre will create 162 new full-time positions, making OLS one of the largest private sector employers in Prince Edward Island.
With this initiative, OLS will employ a total of 426 people between its West Royalty and Lower Malpeque Road Facilities.
"This expansion is a direct response to the increase in demand for our services from customers both here in Canada and throughout the United States," said Jamie Hill, President of On-Line Support. "The investment by On-Line Support will generate win-win benefits for the company and the Island's technology industry, in turn, creating increased employment opportunities on Prince Edward Island."
Since On-Line Support established its technical support service in May 1998, the company has grown by more than 400%, increasing employment from 57 employees to 320 employees today.
"On-Line Support is certainly a made in PEI success story," said the Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island. "This development will not only support and enhance the technology industry of Prince Edward Island, but it will also help to establish our province as an important player in the specialized field of Internet support."
On-Line Support provides inbound technical support centre services to Internet service providers in Canada, including such clients as Sprint Canada, NeoNova Network Solutions, Cable Atlantic, and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC).
"I am pleased the Government of Canada is helping this Island company expand its operations," said George Proud, Member of Parliament for Hillsborough, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. "This expansion is a valuable addition to the Island's technology industry, and to the West Royalty Industrial Park. Focusing on growth means increased long-term job opportunities for Prince Edward Island residents."
Minister of Development, Don MacKinnon calls On-Line Support's expansion an indication of the great things ahead for this growing industry. "The technology industry is fast becoming an important sector to our provincial economy. Companies like OLS and the expansion they are experiencing is an example of the potential of this industry. Anything that the province can do to enhance the growth of the technology industry can only aid in providing additional opportunities to Island businesses and employment for Island youth, both key ingredients for economic success."
Funding for the expansion totals over 2.75-million dollars with On-Line Support providing over $2 -million of those funds. This will be complemented by funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island.
Funding of $312,500 will be provided by Prince Edward Island Business Development through its Strategic Infrastructure Fund. In addition, Human Resources Development Canada has provided $312,500 under the Canada Jobs Fund.
For more information contact: Stephen Ramsay, Human Resources Development Canada, (902) 566-7686; Kandace McEntee, PEI Business Development, (902) 894-0367; Ann Thurlow, Dept. of Development, (902) 368-6574; or Dave McLane, On-Line Support, (902) 629-3240.