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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Walgreens Plans $3.5 Million Expansion At Its Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Facility, Creating 350 Jobs

08/16/2012
Walgreens plans a $3.5 million expansion at the company's Muscle Shoals, Alabama customer care center, with estimates of hiring 350 employees.

Expansion will involve leasing, improving, and equipping approximately 15,000 square feet of available space within the "Southgate Mall" facility and making improvements to existing space, including expanding the center to 62,000 square feet. The firm plans to hire customer care representatives, human resource personnel, quality representatives, team leads and pharmacists.

As an incentive to enhance The Shoals' competitive position for this expansion, state legislation was passed during the 2012 legislative session that changed regulations and allowed the project to move forward. In addition, the firm received a 10-year tax break on property and construction taxes along with other costs.

Alabama State Senator Tammy Irons said, "Prior to the passage of the bill, Alabama's laws were antiquated as related to pharmacy licenses and put the state at a disadvantage in job creation and recruitment of call centers to our state. Other states, such as Florida, were far advanced beyond Alabama and provided proper licenses for customer care centers. This bill now puts Alabama on a more level playing field with other states when it comes to recruiting customer care centers."

"Our location in Muscle Shoals, the quality of the area's workforce, and strong relationships with local authorities have made this community a great place for Walgreens to do business," said Troy Mills, divisional vice president, customer care operations, Walgreen Co. " The recent passage of legislation sponsored by Senator Tammy Irons and Representatives Lynn Greer and Marcel Black, along with support from the Shoals Economic Development Authority, local governments, the State of Alabama, and the Alabama Board of Pharmacy were extremely important in our decision to expand in Alabama.

"Walgreens has discovered first-hand the many benefits of a good location, a quality workforce, a great way of life, and a dedicated economic development team, all in place to help them grow and create jobs in Alabama," Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said. "The Department of Commerce will continue to work with this company in the future to help them continue their success here."

Forrest Wright, president of the Shoals Economic Development Authority, said "The initial Walgreens investment in 2004 was the result of a great company choosing a great community. This expansion is a result of a great company choosing a great community with a great workforce. The growing cooperation among Shoals leaders in 2000 directly led to this good news announced today."

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