Armed with a $9 million state incentive package, HomeServe recently announced its new North American headquarters will relocate from Stamford to Norwalk at the Merritt 7 Corporate Office Park.
Similar to AAA for car repair services, the British company offers emergency home repair services to remove the hassle ”” and perhaps the expense ”” of plumbing, electrical, heat and air conditioning problems. With more than 5 million customers worldwide, the company operates in England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Canada and the U.S.
“Our U.S. market here is our biggest growth opportunity,” said Richard Harpin, HomeServe”™s global chief executive, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 11. “I think it”™s particularly exciting that our North American headquarters are here in Norwalk. Connecticut is a very friendly business state and we”™re happy to have their support.”
The company is slated to receive a $1 million grant, a $3 million loan and up to $5 million in tax credits for urban and industrial site reinvestment. The funds may be used for relocation costs, lease improvements, software, training and marketing. The American arm of the company moved from Miami to Stamford in 2008 and has since added nearly 100 jobs. If the company retains its 109 employees and adds an additional 130 jobs in the state, a portion of the $3 million loan will be forgiven.
At the ribbon cutting, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said his administration is hard at work, bringing good-paying jobs into Connecticut and letting companies know Connecticut is a good place to invest and do business.
“We are very happy to have Norwalk be your new home,” Malloy said. HomeServe”™s decision to grow here means hundreds of jobs.
“You”™re ability to have grown as rapidly (as you have) is remarkable,” he said. “It”™s those kinds of ideas that we want to see start in our state.”
The company employs roughly 650 employees in North America and had considered moving its headquarters elsewhere when it had outgrown its Stamford office. It also has offices in Tennessee and technician sites in New York and New England.
The state package will help support the company”™s $33 million expansion plans, which include moving to Merritt 7 and adding new jobs.
The Merrit 7, touted by Norwalk”™s economic development director Tad Diesel, as “the best managed office park in America,” is home to a number of Norwalk”™s largest corporations including Millward Brown, EMCOR, FactSet, General Electric, Mercer and Siemens. The building includes a Starbucks cafe, fitness center, conference center, Hertz car rental and hair salon.
“Events like this are rare indeed,” Diesel said at the ribbon cutting. “To the governor, I say, keep on bringing the business to Norwalk.”
