LINCOLN, NEB. (July 28, 2005)--Governor Dave Heineman has awarded $504,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the city of North Platte to help 71 Marketing, Inc., a Texas company that provides business process outsourcing services to Fortune 500 financial, service and telecommunications companies, expand to Nebraska.

The project will create 40 full-time positions.

"I believe in the future of Nebraska and in the ability of our entire state to grow," Gov. Heineman said. "Projects like this one help communities like North Platte offer our state's well-educated young people the opportunity for career advancement right here at home."

City officials plan to lend the company $500,000 for working capital and so it can purchase equipment. The remaining $4,000 will be available to North Platte for administrative costs. The business plans to invest an additional $650,000 in working capital and equipment.

71 Marketing, Inc., originated as BPO Advantage, LP, a Texas corporation in March 2003, and was incorporated in Nebraska in May 2005. The "spin-off" was initiated to transition the company's services for its business-to-business (B2B) clients from an outsourced environment to in-house operations. The company plans to lease a building, purchase equipment, and hire employees to service contracts currently serviced at other locations.

The company's services include data entry, order processing, sales and service channels and account management. During its second year of operation, the company plans to construct and move into a facility that provides room for as many as 80 employees. 71 Marketing, Inc. officials expect this to be the first of possibly three similar operations.

Project funding is from a program administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to assist with the development of businesses and communities. Federal funds are made available to Nebraska from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Aaron Sanderford, Gov's Ofc., 402-471-1967
Scott Stockwell, DED, 308-632-0564