Lowcountry Economic Network - Beaufort, South Carolina

CareCore brings jobs to the Lowcountry

By Jaime Dailey - bio | email

BLUFFTON, SC (WTOC) - Despite the economy, there's a lot going on at Buckwalter Place. Crews are prepping the site for the addition of CareCore National, a national company that provides management services for big health insurance companies like Cigna and Etna.

CareCore started an office in Bluffton several years ago and now has 375 employees locally. They've recently decided to relocate their headquarters from New York to the Lowcountry.

"South Carolina, Beaufort County, the Town of Bluffton, expressed an interest in helping to build an opportunity for new jobs and new businesses. They were more than generous in helping to transition with incentives and we thought the life style, the quality of the workforce was appropriate for us to make the move," said CareCore CEO Donald Ryan.

That move will bring 150 new jobs to the area. Jobs, many like Deborah Shaw are looking to fill.

"I've been out of work since late January and from what I'm hearing it will be awhile before I possibly find a position," said Shaw.

Shaw, like many others are excited about the possibilities this expansion brings.

"There's not much available. So with this company offering 150 jobs, I would fully take advantage of that and definitely put in my resume," said Shaw.

Not only does this relocation bring jobs to CareCore but construction jobs also.

In fact, most of the work is being done by local contractors and sub-contractors and that's big for companies like Cleland Construction. Their business has been cut in half and say projects like this help keep people employed.

Kim Statler, executive director with the Lowcountry Economic Network, says CareCore's relocation brings more than just jobs. It's a way to attract more businesses to the area.

"It says our greater region CareCore believes in the location but the workforce they can retrieve from, which is critical to us because it tells that story and allows other businesses to come here also and relocate," said Statler.

She and others are hoping it will bring a much needed economic boost to the region.

CareCore expects for their second building to be up and going by the fall. They are taking applications now, hiring for all kinds of positions in their company including their management team, finance department, information technology, developers, data base manager, operation associates, physicians and nurses.

For more information on the available jobs visitwww.carecarenational.com.