Associated Press
July 15 2004

Tech company picks South Georgia over exporting 250 jobs

SAVANNAH, Ga.

A metro Atlanta consulting and software development company announced
plans to locate 250 jobs in south Georgia after deciding against
sending those jobs overseas.

Alpharetta-base Aelera Corp. chose Savannah for a new software
application development center and Fitzgerald for a business process
outsourcing center over sites in India, China and Armenia.

Aelera CEO Dustin Crane said Thursday that lower salary demands in
south Georgia, because of a lower cost of living, will save the
company about 20 percent compared with the Atlanta area. That’s the
same savings Aelera expected from shipping the jobs abroad.

“We have literally traveled the world looking for the same
opportunities that are right here at home,” Crane said.

Chief Operating Officer Chuck Stallworth said the jobs would be about
evenly divided between Savannah and Fitzgerald. Aelera will open its
Savannah center Aug. 1, while the Fitzgerald operation will open in
about six months, he said.