New Call Center Opening in Linton | Video

Amanda Tetlak | 5/12/2009

The town of Linton has been dealt some tough blows this year, but today a glimmer of hope is beginning to shine through.

The flood recovery will take some time, but those who lost their jobs when a travel center closed have new hope.

Governor Hoeven announced the opening of a new business that will provide dozens of jobs.

Midwest Teleservices International is a telemarketing business that specializes in out-sourcing for major corporations across the country.

It employs about 400 people in North Dakota and Canada, and about 50 more will join the ranks in Linton.

Linton is still recovering from the flooding that happened when Beaver Creek overflowed its banks and swarmed scores of homes in Old Town Linton. Just a couple months before, 46 people were told they were out of a job when American Express Business Travel closed. Kim Eiseman is one of those people whose world was turned upside down when she got the news.

"Shattered. It was really hard looking for a different job and to stay in a small community," says Eiseman. "It`s a great opportunity to raise your children and I think staying in a small community is where I want to spend the rest of my life."

And it looks like she`ll get to do that. She`s is one of 20 people, many who were also laid off, who have already been hired on with Midwest Teleservices International.

"I was ecstatic," says Eiseman. "Very excited. I`m ready to move on and learn something new. I`ve been in the travel industry for 15 years. So very excited about taking on a new opportunity and learning something new."

The building on Main Street will need some renovating before people can get back to work and MTI says the commitment from people in small communities is what makes its business model thrive.

"The major determining factor in our success in this very competitive industry is the work ethic and the enormous potential that`s in these rural communities," says Kathy Hett, of Midwest Teleservices International. "It`s phenomenal."

And the people of Linton say they are willing and able to work hard, even after they`ve hit a few bumps in the road.

Governor Hoeven was in Linton to announce the opening of MTI.

His office played a role in bringing the company to Linton to help get former American Express Business Travel employees back to work.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO REGIONAL STORIES