Drake Software, a leading supplier of tax preparation software to tax professionals throughout the United States, opened a new call center in Dillsboro Nov. 14.

The call center, located in Dillsboro Crossing and modeled after the business’ similar call center in Franklin, is responsible for providing phone and email-based technical support to Drake tax software users. The center will employ up to 20 workers, most of whom will be new, student hires. The positions are both full- and part-time. Drake Software currently has 313 employees with 130 of those positions in customer service.

The call center is linked to the Franklin center via high-speed fiber provided by BalsamWest FiberNET, LLC. Headquartered in Sylva, BalsamWest was created to provide direct access to advanced telecommunications infrastructure in Western North Carolina, North Georgia, and Eastern Tennessee at prices and quality levels enjoyed in metropolitan areas of the United States. BalsamWest’s founding members — Drake Enterprises and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians — have pooled available capital exceeding $12 million for high-speed infrastructure expansion in the region.

“It is a great day in Western North Carolina when we can leverage technology that will enable economic growth and provide jobs in areas that were previously inaccessible,” said Alan Keling, vice president of Customer Service at Drake Software. “As we grow and expand we’ll have the ability to access skilled employees in areas that were traditionally dependent on the manufacturing sector for economic livelihood.”

For 28 years, Franklin-based Drake Software has been committed to providing tax professionals the tools they need to build their businesses and attract new clients. Last year, Drake Software customers electronically filed more than 10 million federal and state returns, and customer service representatives were able to assist more than 18,000 customers with an average wait of less than ten seconds.

In addition to tax preparation software, Drake offers services such as real-time web reporting, preparer Web sites, free online tax research, free bank product software, and free state software for all states.