The Daily Dispatch

Performance Centers, Inc., a call center scheduled to employ more than 50, put plans to expand to Wahpeton on hold in late July but will be starting up business here after all.

The company is expecting a new client to soon sign a contract and hopes to be operating mid-December or the first of January.

"They are back on the radar and looking to locate once again in Wahpeton," said Economic Development Director Jane Priebe. "It's exciting. It brings new jobs and new traffic to downtown Wahpeton."

Performance Centers still has plans to be located in the Opera House, which now has new owners —Greg and Darcy Meide.

A previous client dropped the contract with Performance Centers in July due to consistent construction delays by former owner Jerry Meide.

"Since we knew we couldn't work with Jerry Meide because of his status with the city and the state, we somehow needed to get a new owner in that position," Priebe said.

At a joint meeting between the Economic Development Commission and Community Development Corporation recently approved to recommend to the Wahpeton City Council to provide Meide a downtown revitalization incentive grant in the amount of $25,000 for important improvements to the building. The council is expected to vote on the grant at Monday's 5 p.m. meeting.

Performance Centers has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Jobs Development Authoriy (JDA) for providing and creating jobs in downtown Wahpeton under the condition that they sign a five-year lease with the owner.

"Everybody assures me that once the lease is signed that they can go ahead and finish the project," said Jerry Maley, owner of Performance Centers, Inc.

According to Maley, the heating, air conditioning and miscellaneous plumbing have yet to be installed.

"We're very excited about this. We're excited to bring jobs to the community," Maley said. "I hope everybody has held a positive attitude about this because it should be a good thing for everybody."

Printer Friendly