FLS Connect picks Springfield for call center

St. Paul, Minn.-based political communication and fundraising company FLS Connect LLC plans to create 200 jobs opening its fourth U.S. call center Dec. 1 at 3300 S. National Ave, Ste. 500 in Kelly Plaza. The firm signed a lease with The Wooten Co. LLC to fill an 8,800-square-foot space vacated by Strategic Fundraising Inc. earlier this year.

With operations in Mankato, Minn., St. Cloud, Minn., and Phoenix, Springfield beat out three other cities, according to a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce news release.

“We’re positioning it to be a flagship center,” said FLS Operations Director Mike McGuire, noting the company considered at least two other former Strategic Fundraising sites in Logan, Utah, and Oshkosh, Wis., that were shuttered this year. He said FLS began holding interviews this week and likely would hire some previous employees of the defunct company.

Chamber Business Development Manager Justin Coyan said FLS chose the South National Avenue site because it could be immediately occupied. 

“[It had] everything that they needed, from computers to chairs to telephones,” Coyan said. “The fact that our community had a plug-and-play facility was an advantage.”

McGuire said most of the job openings are full-time positions with paid benefits and average salaries of roughly $15 per hour, including bonuses.

“Springfield offers top-notch employees with Midwestern values that fit our mission of building a one-on-one relationship between our clients and targeted, valuable constituents,” FLS partner Tony Feather said in the release.

Specializing in creating voter contact programs, FLS’ portfolio of clients and projects includes the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senate Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and five presidential campaigns, as well as hundreds of Republican candidates and state parties in the U.S., according to the company’s website.

Strategic Fundraising closed its St. Paul, Minn., headquarters and remaining call centers in late June after other closures earlier this year.

FLS is currently hiring for fundraising professionals and management staff, according to the release.