NORTH LOGAN — A former home improvement center here is now the workplace for nearly 500 people who have learned the nuts and bolts of telecommunications customer service.

Denver-based Qwest Communications International Inc.'s largest customer service and sales center had its grand opening Tuesday, less than six months after the company announced the center would be placed at a former Anderson Lumber store.

"Computers and the latest technology now occupy the space where before we had two-by-fours and screwdrivers," Paula Kruger, executive vice president for mass markets for Qwest, told about 130 people gathered for the ceremonies.

Richard Notebaert, Qwest's chairman and chief executive officer, said the company is proud of its Utah facilities and that the newest one represents something more.

"The opportunity is there to bring jobs not to the Philippines or to China and other places (through) outsourcing, but to bring jobs here, to the United States and places where we can create employment, have good health-care benefits and have people that have 'Qwest: The Spirit of Service' on their shirt, and that means a lot," he said.

Notebaert emphasized the need to care for customers, whose calls from throughout the company's 14-state region will be handled by North Logan workers.

"Customers are the only reason that Qwest exists, because without customers, we don't have work. And without work, places like this and the jobs we create wouldn't be possible," he said.

Jerry Fenn, Qwest's president for Utah, described the Cache Valley work force as "tech-savvy" and "motivated." He also commended the state for having pro-business policies and programs. Utah provided a tax-rebate incentive of up to $2.5 million, part of a $3.1 million incentive package to land the facility in North Logan and give Qwest about 3,000 workers in Utah.

Kruger said the large facility will mean operational efficiencies and economies of scale that will help customer service. "But, as you know, it's more than about the size of a building or the number of occupied desks. It's about the people. And I am simply amazed by the work force that we have in Cache Valley," she said.

With more than 2,000 applicants to choose from, the company has selected what she called "a high-caliber team" of both full- and part-time workers.

"We promised that this center would employ nearly 600 people, and with nearly 500 people already on board, we're well on our way to being fully staffed," she said.