New Carbondale Service Center Brings Care and Jobs to Southern Illinois

Centene and IlliniCare Health celebrated the opening of a new service center in Carbondale, Illinois, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 8. Centene leadership, including Chairman, President, and CEO Michael Neidorff, joined Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and other elected officials and local civic leaders for the ceremony. The 80,000-square foot facility is expected to bring 350 new jobs to the area.

Mr. Neidorff emphasized the new development supports the organization’s commitment to southern Illinois and the communities Centene serves by providing more resources to help remove barriers to care. He noted that this new center contributes both to the health of the community and to local economic development.

“Today’s event highlights our unwavering commitment to keeping our members at the forefront of everything we do, while providing the best possible tools and resources for our employees. . . When all positions are filled, we will employ more than 1,750 employees throughout Illinois, reflecting a diverse and highly-skilled population. And that employee population will continue to grow,” said Mr. Neidorff. “We look forward to attracting and retaining the top talent in the region to help us deliver the highest quality of care to the vulnerable population we serve.”

IlliniCare Health CEO Leslie Naamon also spoke on the importance of supporting the southern Illinois community through job creation.

"Two years ago, Centene began its search for a location for a new service center," said Ms. Naamon. "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."

Governor Pritzker recognized the impact of Centene's presence in Illinois. “That’s a direct investment in this community that will create opportunity for so many working families,” said Governor Pritzker. “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.”

Governor Pritzker also acknowledged the overall need for better behavioral health and substance abuse services and recognized Centene for its focus on those areas of care. “I’m very focused on making sure we are meeting those needs, and Centene is focused on the same thing,” said Pritzker.

The new facility will be shared by Centene and IlliniCare Health, offering a variety of healthcare-related positions. For more information on IlliniCare Health click here.