Denver-based Qwest Communications International Inc. is opening a new call center in north Logan and hiring 600 workers to accommodate growth in its 14-state service region.

Qwest, which is the dominant telephone service provider in Utah with more than 1 million residential and business access lines, will open its third Utah call center at 2250 N. Main St. in Logan in early summer.

Of a total of 15 customer sales and service centers nationwide, Qwest has two call centers in Salt Lake City including one catering to Spanish speakers. It has 2,500 workers in Utah.

Chris Kirk, a real estate broker with Commerce CRG, said the company had considered the possibility of locating at the Canyon Park Technology Center in Orem, former home to Novell Inc.'s Orem campus.

"Canyon Park made sense for a call center. But the real estate there was more expensive than Logan's. Also there wasn't a lot of call center competition in Logan, a concern since companies are concerned about losing workers to other call centers. Convergys had a call center at Canyon Park," he said. "Besides, what Qwest was looking for in the labor pool was also available in Logan."

For its third call center, the high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services provider is leasing a 60,000-square-foot building from Lundahl Cold Storage in Logan, and adding another 10,000 square feet to the property.

State tax incentives of up to $2.5 million and a motivated, tech-savvy workforce in Cache Valley were among reasons behind Qwest's decision to locate its call center in Logan, said Vince Hancock, company spokesman.

"As part of the Economic Development Tax Increment Financing incentive, we get a tax rebate on state taxes of up to 30 percent a year over a 10-year period for a maximum cap of $2.5 million. That works out to business costs savings of $250,000 a year for us," he said.

EDTIF is a state incentive program that allows local governments to create economic development zones to encourage job creation and capital investment. Employers creating new jobs or significant capital investment within these zones may apply for a partial rebate of taxes paid to the state, including payroll taxes, corporate income tax and sales tax.

"The demographics of Cache Valley attracted Qwest, including the number of students at Utah State University and a workforce with considerable experience in the telecommunications industry," said Adam Hawkes, a sales agent with NAI Utah. "Another reason was the willingness of the landlord to convert the building from retail box to call center space."

Qwest plans to start hiring next month for supervisors and resource specialists as well as sales and service associates, who will undergo a 12-week associate training program starting March 14. Many of the positions will be represented by the Communications Workers of America and will include a benefits package.

Interested candidates will have the opportunity to apply and interview for these Qwest positions at Bridgerland Applied Technology College West Campus 1400 N. 1000 West in the coming weeks.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D6.