A Texas-based teleservice company has opened a branch in Presque Isle that could employ up to 100 people in the next year.

Balance BPO, an inbound customer service organization that handles technical support calls for Fortune 500 and other companies, has set up shop in the former MBNA and Connect North America space, according to the Bangor Daily News. It plans to share space with another company, payment processor TxVia, which also plans to hire about 100 people. Tim Lavin, co-founder, CEO and president of Balance BPO, is a native Presque Isler and wanted to open a branch in the city because of The County's strong work ethic, he told the paper. The Presque Isle office will be known as the Center of Excellence.

The company received funding and assistance from the Northern Maine Finance Corp. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, and is in the process of earning Pine Tree Zone certification, according to the paper.