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PHARR, Texas (AP) -- Customer services company Convergys said it plans to hire about 1,000 new full-time employees in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Monitor in McAllen reports that the additional customer services representatives will nearly quadruple the number of employees at the Cincinnati-based company's 24-hour call center in Pharr.

The call center fields customer service calls for clients that include DirecTV, Macy's and Cigna.

A Convergys spokesman told the Monitor that the company will first recruit locally to fill the positions.

Pharr city manager Fred Sandoval said he learned last year that the company would expand its operation in the city, but he didn't expect such a large jump in hiring.