AT&T will close its technical support center in Cedartown later this summer as the telecommunications company continues a nationwide shift toward remote operations.
Employees at the facility were notified Tuesday that the center, located in Cedartown’s North Business Park, will cease operations. According to the company, employees will have the opportunity to continue working for AT&T in remote positions, while a limited number may also have the option to relocate to the company’s Atlanta operations.
In a statement, AT&T said the closure reflects a change in how its customer care operations are conducted rather than a reduction in its commitment to the community.
“Local employees can choose to move into remote roles. While care operations will no longer be based in a physical center locally, our commitment to our people and the Cedartown community remains as strong as ever,” the company said.
Employees are expected to vacate the building by Aug. 15.
The closure is part of a broader effort by AT&T to reduce operating costs and modernize its business by consolidating office locations and expanding work-from-home opportunities for customer service employees across the country.
The Cedartown facility has played a significant role in Polk County’s economic development for nearly three decades. Opened in 1998 following an agreement between BellSouth Mobility and the City of Cedartown, the 58,000-square-foot center was the first business to locate in the North Business Park. It initially served BellSouth customers before later becoming a customer support center for Cingular Wireless and, eventually, AT&T.
At its peak, the center employed more than 650 workers, making it one of the area’s largest employers. In recent years, however, staffing levels declined to fewer than 100 employees as advances in technology and changing workplace practices reshaped the customer service industry.
The closure marks the end of an era for a facility that helped launch development in western Polk County and served as a cornerstone of Cedartown’s North Business Park for nearly 30 years.
