The call center for French teleservices firm, Merkafon Teleperformance, carries an estimated economic impact of $17.3 million annually, Ramiro Garza Jr., executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corp., tells GlobeSt.com. Under the development plan, the firm expects to have 500 jobs on line in the next three years.

Merkafon signed a seven-year lease for its half of the closed Albertsons at 1701 S. Clossner St., owned by Weslaco, TX-based Davis Equity. About $2 million in equipment will be installed in the center.

Eager to have the center in Edinburg where unemployment among the city's 18,000-member workforce exceeds 12%, the Edinburg Economic Development Corp, the governor's office, Texas Economic Development Department, Texas Workforce Commission and Edinburg's Mayor Joe Ochoa joined forces to sweeten the deal. Garza says the incentive package includes $500,000 in training from the Texas Workforce Commission and $500,000 in lease assistance from the Edinburg Economic Development Corp. and the city.

Garza won't disclose the lease's value, but did say the $500,000 would be awarded over a three- to five-year period on a schedule set by the number of new jobs. The start-up workforce is 300, with 100 jobs added annually in the next two years. According to Garza, hourly wages will be about $7.50 per employee, depending upon experience, with an estimated annual payroll of $7.8 million.

Merkafon Teleperformance's employees will be providing Spanish and bilingual customer support services to Fortune 500 customers such as Sprint PCS. Garza says Merkafon looked at several Rio Grande Valley locations before deciding on the former Albertsons.

"Edinburg was chosen as the site for Merkafon's expansion based on the availability of quality personnel, an exceptional facility, community support and cooperation, and the quality of life in Edinburg," Jesus Rodriguez, CEO of Merkafon Teleperformance, said in a press release.