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Department of Veterans Affairs to Open 400-Seat Contact Center in Las Vegas

By Tracey E. Schelmetic
TMCnet Contributor

In news that is very welcome to one of the economically hardest-hit regions of the country, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will be opening a new contact center in Las Vegas that is expected to create about 400 jobs.

The center, which will handle VA-related inquiries, will be housed in 51,000 square feet of leased office space. Harsch Investment Properties yesterday announced the signing of a 20-year lease for the VA’s Consolidated Patient Account Center at 1085 Palms Airport Drive in the Paradise Airport Center, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

John Ramous, vice president of operations for Harsch Investment in the Las Vegas area, said the contact center is slated to open in the summer of 2011. “I think the ability to create 400 new jobs for the Las Vegas area is significant and shows whether it is small or large, how new business can and will impact our local recovery,” noted Ramous.

All in all, the 20-year lease on the office space is valued at a total of $21 million. The space is located within a two-story, 100,000 square-foot office building that will be upgraded for the VA at a cost of $7.5 million, Ramous said. The office space was previously occupied by International Gaming Technologies.

The Department of Veterans Affairs had been shopping for a location for a new contact center for a year. Personnel from Harsch Investment revealed that the firm was awarded the contract after a year of proposals and negotiations.

TWC Construction of Las Vegas will serve as the general contractor on the refurbishment of the office space.