PARIS – There’s nothing wrong with a little speculation, especially when it comes to job creation.

That’s the opinion of Brett Doney, chief executive officer of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills.

The growth council is trying to attract an international financial services call center, which has been scouting around for a place to open another office, Doney said.

The growth council began running a blind ad Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, seeking prospective employees’ resumes for an unnamed call center operation. The operation would locate in the Route 26 building now used by the ICT Group, a call center operation that is closing in March.

At one time the ICT Group employed 200 people, both full and part time.

When it closes, 70 people will lose their jobs.

Doney said blind ads were used in 1997 to attract the ICT Group, based in Newton, Pa. The Route 26 building owned by John Schiavi was custom-renovated with around 200 cubicles and state-of-the-art telecommunications.

CCS, a debt-collection company, occupies the rear of the building with around 30 employees.

Blind ads haven’t always panned out, however, Doney acknowledged. One such effort to recruit potential employees for an unnamed company produced a good many resumes, but the company later decided to locate elsewhere.

Doney said the candidates are made aware that there are no guarantees that the business will end up in the Oxford Hills.

The latest ad seeks persons with work experience in financial services, mortgage services and lending, real estate, telemarketing and bilingual Spanish.

The ad states that the call center operation is offering wages of $7 to $13 an hour with excellent benefits.

“We’ve made a finalist list, and we’re in competition” with other regions to attract the company.

“They are on the fast track to make a decision.”

Doney said the company appears to be reputable, with quality jobs focusing on inbound customer service.

“We’re encouraging anyone who may be interested to get a resume to us,” he said. “We’re very eager to replace those jobs.”

Anyone interested may phone t he growth council at 743-2425 and ask for Barb Olson, or fax their resume to 743-5917.