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Frontier Communications expansion adds 200 jobs in Volusia Co.

DELAND, Fla. — One of Volusia County's largest employers is adding hundreds of new jobs.

Frontier Communications expanded its DeLand call center Thursday, hiring nearly 200 employees.

The company took over 17,000 square feet of a plaza with the $2 million expansion and has plans to expand into the remaining space in the future.

Leaders said they have people on stand-by for jobs when that happens.

"You've got people who have been employed within other industries that have been without work for a year or two. You sometimes have single parents," said David Mowell with Frontier Communications.

The call center handles business for the company that provides internet, voice, satellite TV and other services for many rural-based customers.

The DeLand office has 550 employees, making it the second-largest employer in west Volusia County.

"The talent pool is great here. The folks come in, they work hard, they appreciate us; and we appreciate them," said Donna Loffert with Frontier Communications.

In Volusia County, officials said unemployment is currently at 7.6 percent, down from 9.5 percent last year.

There are about 19,000 people still unemployed, but the county is working to lure more companies like Frontier to continue seeing a drop in unemployment numbers.