Atlantic Credit and Finance expanding in Roanoke, creating 115 new jobs

Atlantic Credit and Finance (ACF) announced Thursday it is expanding into downtown Roanoke and creating 115 jobs over the next two years.

The company will invest $4 million into the expansion. ACF, a subsidiary of Encore Capital Group, is moving into a 54,000-square-foot office at 111 Franklin Road. Construction on its new space at Franklin Plaza will begin immediately, and the company expects to be in its new office later this year.

The company is currently located at 3353 Orange Ave.

Virginia competed against Michigan and Minnesota for the project, which will retain 244 jobs in addition to the new jobs.

“We expect to grow our call center capacity in the coming years, and Roanoke has everything we're looking for in a partner for this expansion,” Shawn Thomas, vice president of operations for Encore Capital, said in a statement.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $250,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the city with the project. Atlantic Credit and Finance is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

ACF services distressed consumer assets and works with individuals on plans to repay their debt. It has operated in Roanoke for 20 years.

Barry L. Ward and Price Gutshall of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer's Roanoke office are the exclusive leasing agents for Franklin Plaza, which according to Thalhimer, is now 88 percent leased.