DEARBORN — Local dignitaries officially dedicated the first-ever Arabic-English customer service center in the United States at Comcast’s new office at 5070 Schaefer Road in Dearborn.

Dozens of guests crammed into the new center for Arabic food and speeches that emphasized the importance of the new center’s commitment to the Arab community in Dearborn.

“It’s here for many good reasons,” said Dearborn mayor John O’Reilly, who cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the center. “Comcast chose to say ‘How do we do better business with a community that’s been under-represented in terms of subscribers?’

“This center will serve the entire community, that’s its intent and goal.”

O’Reilly said that most people don’t realize that the center was actually the re-location of a Dearborn office that was on Michigan Avenue. The service center is part of the company’s $165 million investment in service in Michigan as well as its commitment to service individual communities and cultures within the state.

Comcast currently offers a popular new digital voice phone service as well as its Comcast High Speed Internet (the fastest in the area according to Comcast senior vice president Dave Buhl) and Comcast Digital Cable products.

Planning and designing for the center was a joint effort by Comcast, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). The three groups plan to continue their partnerships to keep the new center up-to-date on the challenges and concerns of the Arab community in Dearborn as it continues to evolve.

The six customer service representatives who will handle phone calls from customers were introduced and given a round of applause, and one other new employee was expected to be hired soon for the same position.

Jim Allen, chairman of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the center would encourage other large corporations to focus on ways to better serve the Arab community.

The center was called a “place where customers can really relate to us as something other than just a large corporation” by Buhl, who was excited that Comcast had finally laid roots down in a segment of the community that has long been overlooked by similar big businesses in the area.

Equipped with top-of-the-line technology and customer service reps who understand and know first-hand what it’s like to live in Dearborn, the center will be a focal point for servicing potential new Arab customers.

One current customer who was happy to see Comcast’s dedication to the community is Hammoud Nassar of Dearborn Heights, who used to live in Dearborn.

“There has been a big difference so far,” he said. “The new crew is very active, creative, and polite. They offer their expertise and a lot of honesty, and they treat you like you are one of the family.”