CenturyLink Breaks Ground on Technology Center of Excellence in Monroe

CenturyLinkTelecommunications and Fortune 500 firm CenturyLink announced earlier this week that the company broke ground on the 250,000 square foot expansion onto the already 365,000 square foot headquarters in Monroe. The expansion, which will add 800 new direct jobs, was announced in 2011 and will be known as the Technology Center of Excellence.

The announcement was made by Louisiana Economic Development along with Gov. Bobby Jindal, CenturyLink CEO and President Glen F. Post III, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo, and Vice President Walt Caldwell of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury who helped break ground on the project.

Governor Jindal said, “CenturyLink is one of Louisiana’s greatest success stories, and we’re proud that they chose to build on that success by capitalizing on our strong business climate and expanding their headquarters here at home. The Technology Center of Excellence will provide high-paying job opportunities for our people and great telecommunications research opportunities for our workers and students, which will help to expand our already growing and highly skilled workforce. The new facility will also help CenturyLink continue to support Louisiana’s strong digital media industry.”

The new Center will include technology research and development space, a network operations center, and additional meeting and office space.

“CenturyLink’s growth and success are a testament to the vibrant business environment in North Louisiana,” North Louisiana Economic Partnership President Scott Martinez said. “NLEP looks forward to working with our state and local partners in meeting the needs of this world-class corporate headquarters.”

As CenturyLink expands, the company has made it a point to make Northeast Louisiana a great place to live and work. The expansion will also create 1,170 new indirect jobs, which adds to the 350-job expansion in 2009. After the new expansion is complete, the company will then have 2,600 employees in the Monroe area.

The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2014 with the full 800 hires completed by 2016. For more information about the CenturyLink expansion, click here or visit centurylink.com.