A call-center company that received $1.75 million in public money to help it open shop in central New York says it’s on pace to add 300 jobs there by June.

Jeffrey Mortlock, director of the Sitel unit in Erwin, New York, says the fast job growth is largely due to a contract the firm has with a large phone company. He says around 250 people currently work at the call center.

Nashville-based Sitel opened the Erwin center last March, paying for it in part with government grants aimed at creating jobs for lowand moderate income workers. They promised to bring 400 full time jobs to the area by 2011.

Erwin Town Manager Rita McCarthy says the company has more than delivered on that promise. She says most of the jobs pay between $8.50 and $9.50 per hour.