The Hartford to Open New Insurance Center in Pennsylvania

The Hartford Financial Services Group announced today that it is expanding its Affinity Insurance Center, which provides auto and homeowners insurance to members of associations and customers of financial institutions, by opening a new sales and service office in Fogelsville, PA.

The new center, scheduled to be operational in July, is expected to hire approximately 200 employees by the end of this year, with 450 additional positions anticipated by the year 2000. The company says rapid growth at necessitated the opening of this second facility, just one year after the first opened in Farmington, CT. The new office in Fogelsville will join other business units of The Hartford at its Lehigh Valley operations campus.

"Since opening our doors, our business opportunities have multiplied," says Hugh Martin, Affinity Insurance Center president. "We now market to one-third of U.S. households, and we must expand to meet the demand and further grow our business.

"This second facility is critical to the continued success of the Affinity Insurance Center, and we are pleased to establish it in Pennsylvania where the strong labor market, cost of living, and support from state and local government are favorable to new business development," he continues. "Governor Tom Ridge and his staff were most helpful in working with The Hartford to expand our presence in the state."

Governor Ridge, speaking from Ireland where he is continuing a technology trade mission, says, "These are good, family-sustaining jobs that will provide a real boost to the entire Lehigh Valley and continue Pennsylvania's strong economic growth. The partnership between Pennsylvania and The Hartford in the Lehigh Valley has proven to be a good one, and I am pleased to see the company's continued commitment to the area with the addition of 650 new jobs."