Georgia-based Chime Solutions says it will add 250 jobs at its Charlotte operations — jobs that officials say will give employees a shot at improving their economic mobility.
The minority-owned company provides customer contact services for several industries. Chime opened an office in the University City area last fall. These new jobs for licensed life and health insurance agents will pay $16 an hour and include training and licensing. CEO Mark Wilson said Tuesday that employees will be set up for career advancement.
"It does give them the ability to be portable with the credential to do things beyond even working for us, which our company's absolutely interested in and supportive of," Wilson said during a virtual press conference.
The city of Charlotte is giving Chime a $100,000 Hiring Opportunity Grant -- the first in a new program announced this spring that encourages hiring from the city's workforce development partners.
Teddy McDaniel is CEO of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, which is one of those partners. "People are getting an opportunity for a credential. It's important. These credentials are portable and for those that may not have a college degree ... they are a stepping stone," McDaniel said.
Meanwhile, the state is chipping in with a grant for training through Central Piedmont Community College.
The city has hosted many announcements in recent years for large corporate relocations and expansions that come with high-paying salaries. Mayor Vi Lyles said the city needs to focus more on jobs that bring economic opportunity at the other end of the workforce.
"Our goal is to model the ability for people to move upward and their ability to live here and raise their families here," Lyles said.
Because of COVID-19, Wilson said most of the new employees are expected to work from home after they complete their training.
It wasn't immediately clear when Chime might begin hiring. Wilson pointed people to the company's website, chimesolutions.com.
A year ago, Chime said that it expected to have 1,000 employees in Charlotte by the end of this year.
