A new operator for the former web.com space has been secured.
The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth announced that Millennium 1 Solutions will set up shop in the business park.
The company is starting to hire former web.com staff, offering 100 jobs immediately with potential for more than 300 in the future.
Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says it’s a nice change from having to field calls when web.com announced their shutdown.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” she said. “Handling the press when the announcement was made for web.com to shut down. It’s just really exciting to be able to hear this piece of good news, all the work that’s been done through Nova Scotia Business Inc. and all the parties coming together to make this happen.”
Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill says it’s a relief to finally be able to talk about it.
“We’ve been working on this for a while, through the Department of Business and Nova Scotia Business, Incorporated and we’re just happy to be at a point where this can be finalized and communicated to our community and particularly the employees at web dot com.”
Victoria Brooks, CAO of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, says a lot of groups worked hard to be able to make the announcement.
“There was great relief for everybody involved. There was an incredible amount of work that went into bringing Millennium 1 Solutions to the community and we know that the region was more or less counting on us and we’re super pleased that we were able to deliver.”
Nova Scotia Business Inc. is still negotiating a payroll rebate with the company according to Zach Churchill.
“That process is going to continue but we don’t see any issues arising from that, that’s a normal process and the company’s confident enough to allow us to get out there and announce this great news for our community.”
Brooks, meanwhile, says their $2 million investment is for “site improvements”.
” There’s structural improvements and there’s security protocol improvements which are required for the site. We do have the high level list and team members from MODY are working with team members from Millennium 1 Solutions to solidify the project’s scope.”
The MLA says there are several bonus items in Southwestern Nova Scotia that are considered helpful in attracting businesses such as Millennium 1 Solutions.
“One of the benefits of this area right now is the training that we have at our high school with the Technology Advantage Program, as well as the links to the NSCC and Sainte Anne’s, so we have a great capacity to train staff here.”
MODY’s CAO says the announcement may also help with the traffic study the Department of Infrastructure and Renewal is conducting with regards to a new exit on Highway 101.
“Traffic volumes and traffic patterns will impact the business model and the forecasted return on investment, so having increased employers in the Hebron Business Park and large employers in the Business Park will only serve to strengthen the argument for that exit.”
Interviews for many of the positions are expected to start very soon with many expected to start work for the company as of the beginning of July.
Millenium 1 Solutions operates seven contact centres in Ontario, Quebec, and Spain, as well as a location in Bridgewater.
