CARBONDALE -- Michael F. Neidorff, chairman, president and CEO for Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), and Leslie Naamon, CEO of IlliniCare Health, a subsidiary of Centene, were joined by Gov. JB Pritzker Wednesday to announce 350 new jobs coming to the Southern Illinois region with the opening of a new facility located at 1237 E. Main St. in Carbondale.
More than 150 guests from a 17-county region attended the celebration, which included remarks from Neidorff and Naamon; as well as Pritzker. Guided tours of the facility were provided and there was entertainment from the Southern Illinois University Student Jazz Ensemble.
"We are proud to continue investing in the people of Southern Illinois," said Neidorff. "We look forward to attracting and retaining the top talent in the region to help us deliver the highest quality of care to those we serve."
According to Pritzker, the 80,000-square-foot facility will bring 350 new jobs.
"That's a direct investment in this community that will create opportunity for so many working families," he said. "I will be your partner as we work to ensure communities across Southern Illinois and across our state get the care they deserve and the investment they need to thrive."
Naamon concurred.
"Two years ago, Centene began its search for a location for a new service center," she said. "We selected Carbondale to aid in its economic development by bringing jobs to its residents and specifically to create opportunities for young people to enter the workforce and therefore remain in the region.
"We have many instrumental partners who have enabled our local economic, civic, healthcare and educational involvement -- all of which contribute to an enriched environment empowering healthier decisions that create more vibrant families and communities."
