Call Center, Jobs Come to Newport

Tax incentives offered by Newport and the state helped entice a company to locate a call center in the Newport Shopping Center.

Indianapolis-based Defender Direct Inc. has announced it will open the call center by the end of January and will eventually employ 100 people full-time.

"We think that region right there has great sales people," said John Corliss, chief operating officer for Defender Direct. "That is a reflection of our northern Cincinnati site. That is a really strong location for us."
Defender Direct distributes and markets products for ADT Security Services, Dish Network and General Electric Security Services.

Defender Direct's choice to locate in Newport comes on the heels of both the city and state approving a 10-year payroll tax incentive for the company. Newport City Commission in November agreed to lower the city payroll taxes for the company from 2.5 percent to 2 percent for each Kentucky resident employed at the call center. The state agreed to lower its payroll taxes by 1.5 percent for Kentucky residents employed there. At the time, the company was interested but hadn't committed to Newport.

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