Assurant Group, a leading provider of specialty risk management programs for the financial services industry, and the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) announced plans today to build a new operations centre in Kingston.

Phase one of the project calls for construction of a $6.4-million, 45,000 square-foot, single-level building that will accommodate about 400 employees.

The facility will include a 252-seat call center, 80 claims associates and related management and support staff. Construction is scheduled begin in late October.

The project will enable Assurant to consolidate support operations now located in the Toronto metropolitan area and position the company to better support the growth needs of its Canadian clients and service some U.S.-based accounts. Approximately 150 jobs from two Toronto offices will transfer to Kingston when the new centre opens in early summer 2003.

KEDCO President & CEO Stephen Kelly said that when the new centre is fully staffed, Assurant would move into the position of Kingston’s third largest private sector employer, behind DuPont Canada and StarTek, Inc.

“Today’s announcement provides another excellent example of how Kingston competes and wins business in the global marketplace,” said Kelly in a news release.

Steven Phillips, managing director of Assurant Services Canada, Inc., Assurant’s Canadian affiliate, said the company-reviewed data from 416 communities across Canada before selecting Kingston. He said that factors influencing the decision included the quality of Kingston’s labor force, its competitive labor and facility costs and the city’s accessibility to the other company operations and locations.

“Consolidating our Canadian support operations positions Assurant to better support the growth needs of current clients and grow our business in Canada,” he said. “We are very excited about the prospects for Kingston and the important role that this new centre will play in the future of our company.”