Congratulations to Pearson Government Solutions for landing more major contracts to support and expand its operation in East Hills Business Park east of Lawrence.

The firm began work this week on a $4.9 million contract to take incoming calls on behalf of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It already handles calls for Medicare, immigration services and other agencies, taking care of some matters and relaying more complicated issues to field offices. Pearson also was awarded an $80 million contract last month to take calls for the U.S. Department of Education.

What a great success story for Lawrence. Pearson, which started out with 16 employees in Lawrence a decade ago, now provides 1,800 full-time equivalent jobs in the community. Last year the Kansas Department of Commerce honored Pearson for it success in recruiting and retaining older workers.

Supporting a growing business often is the most effective kind of economic development for a community. Hopefully Pearson will be a strong player in the local economy for many years to come.