Convergent will open a customer care center in Augusta, Georgia, creating 400 jobs. The Atlanta-based company is one of the country's largest consumer accounts receivable management firms. The Augusta facility will be the Convergent's 13th customer care center and its second in Georgia.

"We chose Augusta for our newest customer care center after looking at several options around the country," said Convergent CEO Michael A. Micek. "Augusta provided the best combination of work force, facility, and deal terms that will permit us to provide the superior performance that our customers have learned to expect from our 12 other customer care centers."

The 36,000-square-foot facility will include inbound customer care managing collections for telecommunications, wireless, utility, banking, cable, and satellite markets.

Georgia Quick Start, the state's work force training program, has made itself available to help Convergent train employees. The Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Development Authority of Richmond County helped bring the project to Georgia.