Cumberland Times-News

Editorials

March 5, 2010

Bright spot

CUMBERLAND — There hasn’t been much good economic news to report of late, but the expansion by CareFirst BlueCross in Cumberland covered in Thursday’s Times-News is a beacon of hope in the lingering recession’s gloom.

Construction has begun on a new $12 million building, which will sit near the insurer’s current facilities on Commerce Drive off Bedford Road, and most likely bring with it some new jobs after it opens.

The company, which is expanding its claims processing and customer service for accounts of 100 or more members, will lease the 40,000-square-foot building from Academic Privatization, which also oversaw the district courthouse project on Liberty Street.

Carl Belt Inc. is the builder, which also will put money into the wallets of local residents. A CareFirst BlueCross spokesman said the structure should be finished by 2011.

With a 10-year lease arrangement already in place, we join eager Allegany County economic development officials in looking forward to hearing of additional hires in the future.

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Editorials