MONROE, La. and ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 16,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM), CenturyLink
(NYSE: CTL) and the State of
Louisiana today announced an innovative public-private
partnership that will create high-value, high-tech jobs in
Louisiana and fuel the talent
demands of the digital economy.
As part of a 10-year business transformation agreement between
IBM and CenturyLink, IBM will open and staff the new applications
development innovation center in Monroe, creating at least 400 new roles for
experienced professionals and drawing heavily on graduates from the
state's colleges and universities.
The rapid adoption of mobile and social technologies over recent
years is driving fundamental transformations to business processes
and applications. The center will provide IBM's clients with
services that address the increasing demand for flexible software
services to create value from big data, cloud computing and
mobile-led business transformation.
"Two of the most successful economic development projects we've
embarked upon in recent years are the multiple corporate
headquarters expansion projects by CenturyLink in Monroe and the innovative public-private
partnerships that gave birth to IBM's technology center in downtown
Baton Rouge," said Governor
Bobby Jindal. "This project
replicates those successes by combining two of the leading
technology companies in the world in a partnership that will pay
great dividends for the community and the economic future of
Monroe, the Northeast Region and
our entire state. This innovative partnership represents a big win
that will bring about more business opportunities for generations
to come."
In addition to the 400 direct jobs that will be created at the
center, Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will
result in approximately 400 new indirect jobs, for a total of more
than 800 new permanent jobs in Northeast
Louisiana.
Additionally, IBM will work closely with local professors to
recommend curricular innovations focused on technology, math and
software development, and equip students to meet the growing demand
for business services, including advanced analytics, process
innovation and application development.
"We're proud to be part of this innovative public-private
partnership with the State of
Louisiana and CenturyLink to further develop highly valued
skills and solutions expertise in security, analytics and mobility
applications," said Colleen Arnold,
Senior Vice President, IBM Sales and Distribution. "Louisiana is the right place for high-tech job
growth with an exceptional education system, business environment
and workforce to serve the needs of our clients."
"As CenturyLink continues to grow in the United States and around the world, we are
committed to expanding our operations in Northeast Louisiana," said Glen Post, CEO and president of CenturyLink. "In
March, we will officially open the CenturyLink Technology Center of
Excellence in Monroe, and
strategic partnerships like this one with IBM advance our goals for
the Center, our company and our community. Our partnership with IBM
enables IBM and CenturyLink to work together to grow both of our
companies and support the communities where our employees live and
work."
The State of Louisiana is
providing $4.5 million in funding
over 10 years to expand key higher education programs, including
the computer science program at the University
of Louisiana at Monroe, the cyber engineering program at
Louisiana Tech, and the data analytics
program at Grambling State University.
In addition, the State will provide $12
million for construction of new office space for the use of
IBM, which will become an anchor tenant of a privately developed
mixed-use complex.
The center in Monroe is the
second IBM center in Louisiana,
modeled on a highly successful IBM skills hub in Baton Rouge in 2013. Both centers are part of
IBM's globally integrated network of client service centers,
delivering deep industry and technical expertise to IBM clients
worldwide.
The partnership will include formal internships with IBM and
additional CenturyLink internships for students in the targeted
universities. Additionally, IBM will work with the Louisiana
Economic Development FastStart® program on recruiting
initiatives, including campus events in Louisiana and neighboring states as well as
via social media, alumni events and the development of recruiting
materials.
For more about IBM Global Business Services, visit
http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/gbs/consulting/.
For more information about IBM jobs in Louisiana, visit http://ibmmonroejobs.com/
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the third largest
telecommunications company in the United
States and is recognized as a leader in the network services
market by technology industry analyst firms. The company is a
global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for
enterprise customers. CenturyLink provides data, voice and managed
services in local, national and select international markets
through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple
data centers for businesses and consumers. The company also offers
advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink®
Prism™ TV and DIRECTV brands. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500
company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's
largest corporations. For more information, visit
www.centurylink.com.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT:
|
CenturyLink: Annmarie
Sartor 318-388-9671
annmarie.sartor@centurylink.com
IBM: Karen Davis
917-346-4406
karend@us.ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM