A Canadian market research firm will open its first U.S.-based office at the end of January, bringing more than 200 jobs to Calais.

Toronto-based Acrobat Research had made its plans subject to work force availability. The company told Calais City Manager Diane Barnes earlier this month that it received more than 230 applications during its preliminary hiring in November.

In a Dec. 18 memo to Barnes, Acrobat Research President Roland Klassen said he was pleased with the response to the company’s advertisements of 80 full-time and 130 part-time positions.

Klassen said the company plans to lease space at the former ICT Group telemarketing center on North Street. Employees will conduct telephone opinion polls, customer satisfaction surveys and social research. Klassen said he aims for a Jan. 21 opening.

“This, of course, is subject to all the stars aligning, but I am confident that we will be operational very early in the new year,” Klassen wrote in the memo.

Acrobat Research has several call centers in rural areas. The centers gather “any information for statistical purposes, which our clients use to improve their products and services,” according to its employment ad in the Bangor Daily News. “What we don’t do: telemarketing sales of any kind, or collections.”

Calais Assistant City Manager Jim Porter said the city is “extremely happy” about the news.

“We have enjoyed working with them in exploring the labor force in Washington County and we are confident they will be successful,” Porter said.

In the memo, Klassen thanked the city officials for their help. He said the company has begun to conduct brief telephone interviews with all applicants and intends to make contact with everyone by Jan. 4.

Acrobat Research will hold in-person interviews in the first two to three weeks of January and plans to work with Washington County Community College for additional screening. The company reportedly offers a starting wage of $8 an hour.

aravana@bangordailynews.net

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