Social Security Call Center Work Halted
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A new Social Security Call Center, to be located in northeast Jackson promised to put 200 people to work when finished. But this week, construction was halted on the future call center. “The reason that jobs aren’t occurring is because their (the federal government’s) budget got slashed by a billion dollars,” said Kyle Spurgeon, CEO of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. He helped to bring this government office to the city and was excited by the number of new jobs the center would offer. “It’s extremely disappointing because those were 200 good jobs that you were looking at here in the community, unfortunately there’s nothing we can do about that today.” Spurgeon has met with other Jackson leaders, and said he still does not know when the project will pick back up. “Today we can’t say it will ever be, even next year or the year after but hopefully positives will come out of it.” Sparky’s Pizza and Grill is only feet away from the construction site. Brandon Buchanan is the president of the restaurant, and hoped the new area business would boost his lunch crowd. “Look at this as a minor set back and we will eagerly await when they start construction.” Still Spurgeon is thankful, because he explains this situation could be worse. “It’s not good news but if you look for a bright sliver lining no one has lost their job because jobs weren’t created.”
