West Virginia’s Expanding Brickstreet Mutual Outsources Public Relations

West Virginia workers’ compensation carrier BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. says it’s getting rid of its in-house public relations and communications office.

BrickStreet president and chief executive Greg Burton said the move will affect six employees.

Burton said the decision to outsource the work will help BrickStreet expand beyond West Virginia to attract new customers and save at least $100,000 next year.

BrickStreet was spun off from a state agency in 2006 and had a monopoly on workers’ compensation insurance in West Virginia until July 2008.

BrickStreet has taken several steps to reduce staff and trim costs as it competes in the open market.